Hundreds of phones seized from prisoners in Strangeways

Police said the devices have been used to supply drugs, weapons and plan violent attacks

Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 13th Nov 2025

Hundreds of mobile phones, electronic devices and SIM cards have been seized from prisoners held in Strangeways, as part of a major crackdown on crime behind bars.

The devices had been used to supply drugs, weapons and plan violent attacks, after being smuggled in to HMP Manchester.

The devices have since been crushed.

Detective Sergeant Carla Dalton from our city of Manchester Prison Team said: “Every single phone we remove from a prison cell is a blow to organised crime.

"These devices are not harmless – they are used to arrange drug deals, weapon drops and even plan violent attacks.

“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.”

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