Jamming convicts' mobiles works

[danrok]

On Friday CellAntenna demonstrated it could jam mobile phones within a 1000 square meter area within a prison, without noticeably affecting those passing. This opens the door to widespread adoption of the technology.

Continues here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/25/prison_test/

[Pomme de terre]

Question is, will Ian Le Marquand get the job, and is he still reading PJ to see this link?

Ian, are you there?

[!CaveMan]

There is NO WAY to confine a jammer to the inside of the prison unless the whole place is covered in tin foil then no phone would work anyway,
you can try this for yourself by wrapping up your switched on mobile in baking foil and see if you can ring it from another fone, "take it from me the signal wont get thro" It would definatley affect the public and everyone using a mobile in the near vicinity including the Guards own phones,
 the best way is to have a passive low gain hidden sensor in each prison cell to detect a mobiles RF transmission and a lamp would flash on a control panel to show which prisoners cell is using a mobile phone, even if a phone is just turned on it will give its self away as they handshake with the exchange every few hours.

[John de la Haye]

It is a little distasteful that prisoners are allowed to have mobile telephones isn't it? After all they are in prison.

[Res Nullius]

They don't call them cell phones for nothing John..

[danrok]

It is a little distasteful that prisoners are allowed to have mobile telephones isn't it? After all they are in prison.

They're not allowed, but find there way in there all the same.

[John de la Haye]

Thank you Danrock.

I thought prisoners were searched before going into prison.?

[!CaveMan]

if phones can be smuggled in what else can be
used to be a file in the cake in the old days
so whats wrong with security at la Moye,get a customs officer their they will sort it out
its more difficult to get onboard an aircraft with a bottle of water!

[danrok]

All kinds of contraband passes through our ports.  Suggests security there is no better.

[danrok]

Thank you Danrock.

I thought prisoners were searched before going into prison.?

Some prisoners come and go on a daily basis, they go out to work as part of rehabilitation.  They are searched, there's sniffer dogs, and they're drug tested.

Then you have all kinds of visitors coming and going.  How thoroughly can you search non-convicts, and staff?

Also, items can be launched over the wall from the outside.

It's not a high security prison.

[John de la Haye]

Danrock,

I have visited HMP La Moye on business and found the searches very efficient. Are you suggesting that the Wardens are in any way lax?

John.

[danrok]

Danrock,

I have visited HMP La Moye on business and found the searches very efficient. Are you suggesting that the Wardens are in any way lax?

John.

I don't suppose you were strip searched?

I'm not suggesting the wardens are lax, or anyone else.  Nothing is 100% secure.

Although there are prisons which are more secure, but they're very different to ours.  Convicts have no rights to visitors, for example.