Prisoners who are found with mobile phones while inside jails are to face prosecution under plans outlined in the Queen’s Speech today.

The new criminal offence follows growing concern that some prisoners are continuing to run their criminal empires from within jails by using mobile phones.

Delphon Nicholas, a gangster, organised the murder of a rival on his mobile phone from inside a top security prison.

Nicholas, 29, arranged for his former childhood friend Andrew Wanoghu to be shot in the back by a hired assassin in 2006. He orchestrated the execution from inside Belmarsh security prison by using a mobile telephone he was able to access.

Times Archive, 1841: The Queen's speech

The country has never heard such a speech so rich in its negative qualities, so perfect in the art of leaving all unsaid

• Her Majesty's opening of Parliament

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A total of 8,648 mobile phones or Sim cards were found in prisons in England and Wales in the year to the end of June, including 255 found in top security jails.

Last month a prisons watchdog report on Wormwood Scrubs jail said the use of mobile phones by prisoners was linked to drug activity within the jail.

It is currently against prison rules for inmates to possess mobile phones in prison.

The new measure is to be included in a Crime and Security Bill which will also introduce a new legal requirement on people to ensure airguns are stored out of the reach of children.

Other measures in the Bill will introduce a mandatory assessement of a child’s parenting needs whenever an anti social behaviour order is being considered for a 10 to 15 year old.

Parenting orders will also be imposed on mothers and fathers whenever a youngster breaks an Asbo.

Powers to exclude violent men from the family home for fourteen days - so-called Go orders - are also in the Bill.

The Bill will include the controversial plans to retain the DNA samples of innocent people on the national database for six years. At present, people who are arrested but subsequently not charged or cleared at court remain on the DNA database for ever.

Police are also to be given the power to take DNA samples and fingerprints from prisoners currently serving sentences for serious crime. They are also to have the power to take samples from serious violent and sexual offenders returning to the UK after being convicted of offences overseas.

A compulsory licensing system for wheel clamping businesses is to be introduced, to tackle rogue firms who impose excessive penalties for releasing clamped cars, or tow cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped, and fail to offer an appeals process for drivers.

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