Two Men Arrested After Drone Circles HMP Long Lartin Prison

Two men, aged 19 and 33, were arrested after a drone was spotted circling above HMP Long Lartin, a category A men's prison in Worcestershire. Police stopped a vehicle about 20 minutes after the sighting and recovered the drone, arresting the men on suspicion of conspiracy to convey prohibited items into the prison, with the older man also charged with driving under the influence of drugs. The prison has experienced an increase in drone drops delivering contraband such as drugs, weapons, and mobile phones, prompting a sustained police crackdown and calls for urgent action from prison authorities. Detective Chief Inspector James Bamber emphasized ongoing efforts to detect and disrupt illicit drone activity around the prison, which holds serious offenders including terrorists and organized crime figures. The Ministry of Justice’s chief inspector of prisons highlighted serious safety and security concerns at HMP Long Lartin, describing the illicit trade as a national security threat. Authorities urge the public to report drone sightings over the prison immediately to help prevent further incursions.