MOBILE phones are now so small that inmates at a jail housing dangerous offenders and terror suspects have been able to smuggle them into their cells, according to an inspection report today.

The security lapses were discovered at Belmarsh jail in southeast London earlier this year, when four mobile phones were found. One prisoner smuggled a phone into the jail in Woolwich despite a strip search. He revealed that he concealed it in his underpants.

Prison Service sources said yesterday that mobile phones were so small that visitors were hiding them in body crevices.

Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said that although security was regarded as the “foremost priority”, officers posted to security duties were frequently redeployed.

Senior security managers admitted that they were bogged down with paperwork which meant they were unable to visit the wings of jails to conduct routine security checks.

Ms Owers’ report said: “The security department was not sufficiently co-ordinated to provide a cohesive approach to security across the establishment. Routine security safeguards were not being carried out thoroughly.”

The report highlighted the fact that four mobile phones were discovered in Belmarsh last May. Staff can carry out a strip search of people entering a jail but need a warrant to allow police to conduct an intimate body search.

More than 300 security reports were made each month at the jail. Most of them raised issues concerning drugs, bullying and the formation and gang activity .

While search teams carry out targeted operations, routine cell inspections are conducted by residential staff. Prisoners and residential staff confirmed searches were carried out superficially, if at all.

Belmarsh holds almost 900 inmates, ranging from low-risk young adults on remand to exceptional-risk Category A inmates. It also holds seven terror suspects which have been held without charge under the Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Act.

The report also criticised support for terror suspects. They had complained aboutnot being able to mix and limited access to telephones and interpreters.

The Prison Service has prepared a special unit for the terror suspects at Woodhill jail, near Milton Keynes, but some are unwilling to move because they want to mix with others at Belmarsh.

The inspection said that intelligence reports suggested heroin was also available.

Ms Owers blamed the problems on a 15 per cent shortage in staff made worse by prison officers being inflexible in their working practices.

Ms Owers said: “At the time of the inspection, Belmarsh was struggling to provide a regime and an environment that met the basic needs of its prisoners. But she added: “Things had undoubtedly improved.”

Phil Wheatley, Director General of the Prison Service, said: “At the time, the prison was operating an emergency regime due to staffing pressures. This is not the case now. Belmarsh has turned round its sickness levels and will be nearing full staff by the end of the year”.

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