The Andrews Labor Government is banning drones from flying near prisons and youth justice precincts.
Victorian Minister for Corrections Gayle Tierney explained that the changes to the Corrections Act 1986 to be introduced into Parliament today will make it an offence to intentionally or recklessly operate a drone at or near a prison or youth justice precinct. The Minister went on to explain that the new restrictions mean it is an offence to fly at or below 400 feet (approximately 120 metres) above a prison, with the laws also applying to supervised residential facilities like Corella Place. Drones pose a significant risk to correctional facilities in a number ways including being used to smuggle in contraband like drugs, weapons and mobile phones.
“If someone wants to use a drone to drop contraband into a prison they might find themselves on the wrong side of the wall.” Minster Tierney commented.
Minister Tierney said that drones have been detected near a number of prisons, including the Melbourne Assessment Prison and the three prisons in Ravenhall, the Metropolitan Remand Centre, Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and the new Ravenhall Prison. The Minister went on to explain that anyone caught intentionally or recklessly operating a drone near a prison or youth justice precinct will face a maximum two years in prison, the same penalty for smuggling contraband into a correctional facility. This added layer of security is just one way Corrections Victoria is preventing contraband from entering our prisons.