How to Protect Against the Use of UAS for Contraband Smuggling in Prisons
The widespread use of commercial drones has seen a surge in recent years, and with the rapid development of their capabilities, especially the quality of cameras and how much load they can carry, there is a big increase in instances where Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are being used for prohibited and illegal operations.
Prisons are now facing the threat from the UAS, where they are used to smuggle contraband into prisons. Drone incidents have been actively tracked since 2018, and there’s an upward trend in reported incidents. The Department of Justice recently announced they have started looking for counter UAS (C-UAS) solutions and responses for the ongoing UAS threat.
Previously, it was difficult to smuggle contraband into prison since it required that someone bring it there themselves, and often involved bribing guards too. Now with UAS, it’s much easier and only requires flying the drone and dropping the contraband into the yard for collection.
While prison facilities are well defended from the ground, they lack the same level of defence when it comes to aerial access. This leaves them vulnerable to UAS threats, since high fences and towers cannot provide adequate protection against these systems. A recent example was when several men were arrested in Vermont in October this year after a scheme was uncovered where contraband (tobacco, drugs cell phones etc.) were being smuggled into Fort Dix using 'multiple airborne deliveries.'
Counter the Threat with DroneShield
Prisons and other correctional facilities require C-UAS prisons systems that can detect but also disrupt UAS when needed.
DroneShield provides a multi-sensor counterdrone protection that combines radio, radar, and optical sensors that can be integrated into existing prison alarm systems and enhance monitoring of all the facilities. The solution supports adding third-party radar and other types of sensors into their C-UAS arsenal.
With DroneShield, prisons will benefit from a complete system that can analyse multiple feeds at the same time, and display all important data in a clear manner onto a single security hub. The browser-based log in makes it easy to access from any device used, and the customisation options help make it suitable for every prison’s specific needs.
Learn more about DroneShield for Prisons and Correctional Facilities visit:
www.droneshield.com/prisons
