More than 500 phones taken from prison and crushed

More than 500 mobile phones, electronic devices, and SIM cards have been destroyed after they were seized from a men's prison.

The devices were taken from inmates at HMP Manchester, formerly known as Strangeways, by police and His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service.

Having an electronic device in prison is an offence under the Prison Act 1952 and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and possessing the contraband could lead to additional jail time.

Det Sgt Carla Dalton said: " These devices are not harmless, they are used to arrange drug deals, weapon drops and even plan violent attacks."

More than 500 mobile phones were seized from inmates at HMP Manchester

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said mobile phones and SIM cards are often used by prisoners to coordinate serious organised crime, such as drug and weapon supply, and serious violence.

The force said these devices are seized regularly, but this haul of 500 items was gathered over a course of around 18 months, from the start of 2024 until mid 2025.

"Every single phone we remove from a prison cell is a blow to organised crime," Det Sgt Dalton said.

She said: "By seizing and destroying these electronic devices, we are cutting off the line that offenders rely on to continue their criminality from behind bars.

"This work is about protecting the public and ensuring that those serving sentences cannot exploit technology to harm our communities any further."