Government plans to introduce a specialist unit in attempt to curb the use of drones to transport drugs and mobile phones into prisons have been dismissed as “twaddle” and a "mere distraction” by prison experts and former inmates.

The Ministry of Justice has today announced plans for prison and police officers to work with law enforcement agencies to inspect drones recovered from jails, in a bid to identify and track down those involved in attempts to smuggle in contraband and ensure that they are brought to justice.

Prisons minister Sam Gyimah said that following an increase in drones entering prisons last year, the initiative will see investigators draw together intelligence from across prisons and the police to identify lines of inquiry, which will then be passed to local forces and organised crime officers.

But prison experts and specialists have told The Independent that drones are a minor problem in the context of the wider issues facing the prison system at present, and accused the Government of using the plans as a public relations exercise that glosses over the real problems in the penal system.

Alex Cavendish, former prisoner and prison affairs academic, said: “The drone issue has become something of a distraction from the real problem. Prisons are awash with drugs, but this is not because of drones. This is because of corrupt staff. That’s the reality.

“Nobody who is serious about being in the drugs trade is going to take a risk of putting product worth £1,000 on the outside – worth £6,000 on the inside – on a drone and then losing it, because someone has to pay that bill.

“Clearly it’s a new way of getting things over prison walls, as opposed to throwing them over. But the vast majority of big consignments of drugs, large quantities, are being smuggled in by staff and contractors. If you look at some of the big drug and mobile phone seizures they’ve made it recent years, it’s been members of staff or contractors who have been caught red-handed.

“When drones are found within prison walls they normally contain things like prepaid SIM cards, which are very light, and bags of psychoactive substances [such as spice], which of course have a much lower street value than real drugs.”

Criminologist and former prison watchdog chairman Faith Spear described the plan as a “silly initiative”, saying it failed to deal with the “root case” of problems in prisons, such as overcrowding and under-staffing.

“When you think of the relatively small amount of drones that get into prisons, they couldn’t bring the amount of mobile phones and drugs in that you find within a prison. It’s just not possible,” Ms Spear told The Independent.

“A lot of it comes through corrupt staff, and these kinds of things are hidden. Even if other officers or governors are aware, a lot of these things are dealt with in house – not out in the media. So we only hear about a small number of cases, but it’s widespread.

“They say they’ve got this new initiative they want the public to grab hold of, but if you’re not dealing with the root causes, all this is a facade. It’s not dealing with the problems of drugs and phones within prisons. It's not dealing with the real issues, like overcrowding and under-staffing.

“I don’t know whether the public will take it on board, but I think anyone who knows about the business and have worked in prisons will know that it’s just a silly initiative that probably won’t do a lot of good.”

Announcing the plans, the Ministry of Justice referred to one recent case of drone-facilitated drug smuggling, which saw a joint operation between police and prison officers lead to the arrest of two men who had attempted to flood prisons with contraband worth around £48,000.

The men, one of whom was subsequently jailed for six years and six months and the other for four years and four months, used drones to try and fly packages containing cannabis, spice and heroin, as well as phones into three different prisons.

The Government’s plans to tackle drones in prisons also come following a sharp increase in incidents involving drones in recent years, with figures showing there were 33 incidents of the gadgets being detected in or around jails in England and Wales in 2015, up from just two the year before and none in 2013.

The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons Show all 6 1 /6 The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons A 2006 survey found that 74 per cent of young criminals had a family structure which had broken down The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons Edlington recreation ground, close to where two young boys were attacked in April 2009. Their attackers, two brothers then aged 10 and 11, will be sentenced this week GETTY IMAGES The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons Young blood: a policeman guards the scene in Edlington, South Yorkshire, where the brutal attack on two young boys took place GETTY IMAGES The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons No place like home: a resident at East Moor secure children's home, Leeds The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons Behind closed doors: inmates in secure children's homes and young offenders face a strict routine of education and chores, only earning rewards through good behaviour PA The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons The Attorney General has decided to bring contempt proceedings against individuals who allegedly posted online photographs purporting to show James Bulger killers Jon Venables or Robert Thompson. PA

But a former prisoner, named only as the Tartan Con, who served four years before his release in 2016, told The Independent that in reality, of the total amount of drugs that find their way into prisons, drones facilitated ”a mere handful”.

“For every one drone, there are probably 100 other packages that get in through staff, visits, governor, or over the wall. I never saw one during my time in prison. The first time I even heard about them was when I got out,” he said.

“The problem is the drones are what everybody talks about because it’s a funky new thing. But it’s a mere handful. It’s not as if you walk outside the prison and just see a sky of drones trying to get in.

“This is the Government doing a public relations exercise. It’s just something it puts out to say ‘we’re tackling the issue’. They’re thinking they need to say something about prisons, so they say they’re tackling drones.”

Ben Gunn, former prisoner and criminal justice consultant, said drones accounted for “just a few percentage points” of drugs in prisons, and accused ministers of shirking the issue of staff corruption.

“Drones are a minor problem. They generate a small source of the drugs that get into prisons – just a few percentage points compared to staff corruption and stuff being thrown over walls. Yet staff corruption is something ministers won’t touch,“ Mr Gunn said.

“They are not adding or subtracting to anything really. They’re just an interesting new, but tiny, addition to the drug and phone issues.”

In November, the prisons minister Sam Gyimah suggested that eagles could be used to stop the proliferation of drone usage, while in December Justice Secretary Liz Truss raised eyebrows in the House of Commons when she claimed barking dogs could be a solution to the problem.

Mr Cavendish accused ministers of failing to understand the “intricacies” of how drug supply works in prisons, and said the plans announced today targeted an aspect that is “in vogue” but while failing to deal with the deeper and more ingrained issues with the UK penal system.

“Politicians really don’t understand the intricacies of how drug supply works in prisons. They haven’t got a clue. I’m not saying they shouldn’t target them, but this is one small piece of a much bigger puzzle, and until they get to grips with the issue of corrupt prison staff and contractors, this problem will never be solved.

“Liz Truss made a complete fool of herself in the House Of Commons by saying they were deploying dogs to discourage drones by barking. I think what she’s trying to do now is row back and correct the foolish statement that she made in Parliament, by saying we’re actually doing something about drones.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 September 2020 People enjoying the autumn sunshine as they punt along the River Cam in Cambridge PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2020 Early morning light bathes the skyscrapers of the City of London, at the start of a week in which the UK is expected to bask in temperatures of more than 30 degrees PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2020 England celebrate after they dismissed Australia's Alex Carey to win the second ODI match of the series at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2020 Protesters outside BBC Broadcasting House in central London, as marches and rallies form across the country calling for a 15% pay rise for NHS workers and an increase in NHS funding PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2020 An empty migrant dinghy floats off the beach at St Margaret's Bay after the occupants landed from France in Dover Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2020 A view of small boats thought to be used in migrant crossings across the Channel at a storage facility in Dover, Kent PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2020 EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier, left, arriving from the Eurostar with EU Ambassador to the UK, Portuguese diplomat Joao Vale de Almeida at St Pancras International railway station, London, for the latest round of the negotiations on a free trade deal between the EU and the UK PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2020 Dawn over Coquet Island, a small island off Amble on the Northumberland coast PA UK news in pictures 7 September 2020 A hovercraft arrives to Southsea, Hampshire from the Isle of Wight PA UK news in pictures 6 September 2020 Forensics officers near the scene of multiple reported stabbings in Birmingham Reuters UK news in pictures 5 September 2020 Anti-migrant protesters demonstrate in Dover against immigration and the journeys made by refugees crossing the Channel to Kent PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2020 Activists take part in a demonstration against the HS2 hi-speed rail line outside the Department of Transport AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 September 2020 Peter Baker, who plays Trigger in the musical version of Only Fools and Horses, sweeps the stage of the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London, after observing a 15 minute silence to show solidarity with those in the theatre industry that have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2020 Kadie Lane, right, 11, and Brooke Howourth, 11, hug on their walk to Marden Bridge Middle School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, for their first day of term, as schools in England reopen to pupils following the coronavirus lockdown PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2020 Extinction Rebellion protesters sitting outside The Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London PA UK news in pictures 31 August Surfers at Long Sands Beach, Tynemouth PA UK news in pictures 30 August Black Lives Matter protesters march through Notting Hill in London in the first Million People March EPA UK news in pictures 29 August A protester reacts as she demonstrates against the lockdown and use of face masks, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, outside Downing Street in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 August Caribbean soca dancers display their costumes as they promote the first ever digital Notting Hill Carnival, following the cancellation of the normal Carnival festivities due to the continued spread of the coronavirus disease, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 August Father and son team Chris and Sam Milford from historic building conservation specialists WallWalkers begin restoration work on the spire of Norwich Cathedral, which stands at over 312ft high. The first known spire was completed in 1297 PA UK news in pictures 26 August Giant waves at Seaham in County Durham, as the bad weather continues PA UK news in pictures 25 August An assistant at the Wallace Monument cleans the case which houses the William Wallace sword in the Hall of Arms room at the monument near Stirling as they prepare to re-open PA UK news in pictures 24 August Restored World War Two landing craft LCT 7074 is transported from from the Naval Base in Portsmouth to its final resting place at the D-Day Story at Southsea PA UK news in pictures 23 August Jenny Nguyen and Tony Cao, from Vietnam, pose for wedding photos on Tower Bridge in London, as it remains closed to vehicles after it was stuck open on Saturday due to a "mechanical fault". The landmark's Twitter account confirmed only pedestrians and cyclists could use it on Sunday morning PA UK news in pictures 22 August England's Zak Crawley hit 267, joining the exclusive Double Hundred club, on day two of the Third Test match against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton PA UK news in pictures 21 August Harri Teale gathers lavender during the annual harvest on the Wolds Way Lavender farm near Malton in North Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 20 August Parents and a student react after checking GCSE results at Ark Academy in London Reuters UK news in pictures 19 August Tate Modern workers hold a strike outside the gallery in London, to protest the institution's announcement that it would cut more than 300 jobs from its commercial arm, Tate Enterprises PA UK news in pictures 18 August Two rescued brown bear cubs, Mish (left) and Lucy, cool off in a pool after arriving at their new home with the wildlife conservation charity Wildwood Trust in Herne Bay, Kent. The orphaned pair, who have been living in a temporary home in Belgium since they were found abandoned and alone in a snowdrift in the Albanian mountains, will be acclimatised to their new life in the country before moving to a permanent home PA UK news in pictures 17 August A level students celebrate outside the Department for Education in London after it was confirmed that candidates in England will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm. The government U-turn comes just days after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson vowed there would be "no U-turn, no change. PA UK news in pictures 16 August Wasp players take a knee as Northampton Saints stand prior to kick-off in their Premiership match at Franklin's Gardens PA UK news in pictures 15 August Piper Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung attends the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 14 August People including students hold placards on Whitehall outside Downing Street as they protest against the downgrading of A-level results. The government faced criticism after education officials downgraded more than a third of pupils' final grades in a system devised after the coronavirus pandemic led to cancelled exams yes AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 13 August Benita Stipp (centre) and Mimi Ferguson (left) react as students at Norwich School receive their A-Level results PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2020 A train derailment near Stonehaven has left three people dead. Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie, and a passenger were killed when the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street service crashed amid heavy rain and flooding BBC UK news in pictures 11 August 2020 A woman hydrates in the sun after open water swimming at the West Reservoir Centre in north London Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 10 August 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes part in an archery session as he visits Premier Education Summer Camp at Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' in Upminster Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2020 People cycle through Cambridge as the heatwave continues in Britain EPA UK news in pictures 8 August 2020 Healthcare workers take part in a protest in London over pay conditions in the NHS Getty UK news in pictures 7 August 2020 Emergency services make their way along the seafront on Bournemouth beach in Dorset on one of the hottest days of the year PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2020 Alison Murphy poses for a picture by husband Peter as she walks through a field of sunflowers in Altrincham, Cheshire PA UK news in pictures 5 August 2020 Pakistan's Abid Ali being bowled by England's Jofra Archer during day one of the First Test match at the Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester PA UK news in pictures 4 August 2020 The 'Timbuktu tumblers' from Kenya perform their balancing act on the Southsea waterfront as Zippos Circus reopens in Portsmouth Rex UK news in pictures 3 August 2020 Pelicans interact with a visitor in St James's Park in London PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2020 Lewis Hamilton drives with a puncture towards the finish line to win the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone POOL/AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 1 August 2020 Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the FA Cup, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease Pool via Reuters UK news in pictures 31 July 2020 People enjoy the sunny weather at a Bournemouth Beach Reuters UK news in pictures 30 July 2020 An artist puts the finishing touches to a wax figure of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the entrance line at Madame Tussaud's in London, as the attraction prepares to reopen to the public following the easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2020 A member of staff stands on Ai Weiwei's 'History of Bombs' during a photocall for the Chinese artist's new work on display at the Imperial War Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 28 July 2020 Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite. It was a milestone wicket in his career, reaching his 500th Test Wicket for England. They went on to beat the West Indies in Manchester and therefore win the series 2-1 Getty/ECB

“It’s twaddle. It’s pretending. The mantra is that something must be done, and the easiest way is to set up a small task force and focus on a very public issue that is in vogue at the moment, rather than deal with what’s happened over the last seven years in prisons, which is too few staff and a massive reduction in security, with the result that it’s very easy to smuggle in contraband.”

The prisons minister said of the plans: “We are absolutely determined to tackle the illegal flow of drugs and mobile phones into our prisons and turn them into places of safety and reform.