Prison drone problem a 'red herring'

A specialist squad of prison staff and police officers has been formed to tackle the problem of drones smuggling illicit items into prisons.

The easy-to-fly, remote-controlled aircraft have been used to deliver drugs, mobile phones and other contraband directly to prison inmates at their cell windows.

John Podmore, former head of the prison service's anti-corruption unit and now an international prison services consultant, tells the Today programme that the government's plan to crackdown on drones is a "red herring" and the target should be contraband in general.