Prison worker arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle drugs and phones into Cambridgeshire jail

The 42-year-old man, who works at HMP Whitemoor was arrested following a joint operation involving law enforcement and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

An operation led by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit’s (ERSOU) Prisons Intelligence Unit (PIU) into the illegal importation of drugs and phones identified that the goods were being brought in to wings within the prison.

Enquiries while restrictions were in place during COVID-19 lockdowns helped investigators establish a number of potential ways the contraband was being brought in, including within the prison workforce.

On Tuesday, 6 April, a man was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and offences under the Offender Management Act, and has subsequently been released under investigation.

Paul Glasgow, ERSOU’s Prisons Intelligence Lead, said: “This arrest is part of a wider operation tackling the importation of contraband and illegal substances into the prison estate across the region, and is the result of a significant amount of partnership working across a number of agencies.

“Our dedicated prisons team works closely with HMPPS colleagues to tackle this issue, and we’ll continue to target those looking to act illegally.”