Corrections has worked with drone manufacturers to geo-fence parts of the system from drones. File photo. Photo: 123rf.com
Nearly 30 drones have been spotted near prisons in a year, and Corrections says it is a challenge to keep up with the technology.
Data obtained by RNZ shows there were 15 drone sightings over, around and within prison grounds in the year to June, 2024, with another 13 in this financial year.
Christchurch Men's Prison had the highest number of sightings with seven reported, while the highest reported number of sightings in the last financial year was at Whanganui Prison, with five spotted.
Corrections spokesperson Neil Beales said it was challenging to keep up with ever-changing drone technology.
"We know that criminals, and people who are trying to assist criminals, will always try and find new ways of getting contraband into prisons and subverting our security processes," he said.
"We've been aware of the threat of drones, certainly, for the last good decade, from when drones began to become more readily available to the public.
"We have been working quite closely with our intel teams, obviously we liaise very closely with the police, and look at what powers we do have, but it's the technology that's always going to be the challenge.
Beales said the technology moved too rapidly for Corrections to always meet the threat it posed.
"We are alive to the fact that we are not immune to the increase in technology," he said.
He said not all drones were sent to deliver contraband to prisons.
"Some of them could just be people operating drones near the prison, without any idea that they're actually near a prison," he said.
"Sometimes it may be more sinister than that."
Beales said Corrections worked with drone manufacturers to geo-fence parts of the system, but even that might not be invulnerable to someone with a reasonable understanding of technology.
"You can never rely on just one method," he said.
"Contraband prevention and detection in prison is a range of things, so that's using intelligence, making sure that we've got staff in the grounds, on the grounds, alert to the potential risks, managing the prisoner population appropriately, carrying out regular searching," he said.
Drug testing was also part of prevention, Beales said.
Corrections data shows 2359 contraband items have been found in prisons as at September this year, including alcohol, drugs and weapons.
The highest number of drone sightings took place during the 2019-2020 period, with 21 sightings in total across the country, with 11 seen at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison.
Beales said those bringing contraband into prisons were creating significant risks and dangers for staff and prisoners at the facility.
"For those people who will continue to try and get contraband in prisons, we know that they're not going to give up, neither are we.
"We're going to keep on top of this issue, and we will always be looking to be able to apply the law to it's fullest extent to those who bring, or try and get contraband into prisons," said Beales.
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