Officers arrest two men flying drone near prison wall

Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Monday 3rd February 2025, at 19:55hrs

Officers sprung into action after spotting two men acting suspiciously

GMPs Neighbourhood Policing Team alongside Prison Liaison Officers in Wigan have made two arrests and recovered a drone outside HMP Hindley.

In a statement released today, Greater Manchester Police said:

“Over the past 12 months we have continued our efforts alongside His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) – to disrupt, prevent and tackle serious organised crime involving drugs which are linked to the prison communities in Greater Manchester.

Operation Gatehouse will relentlessly pursue those who commit serious, organised crime within the prison estate or assist this offending.

On Tuesday 28 January 2025, officers out on proactive patrol around HMP Hindley spotted two men acting suspiciously tracking them until they reached the walls of the prison.

After observing their movements, officers sprang into action and detained the suspects. The drone they were in possession of was also seized by our officers, it is believed that they were trying to contravene illegal commodities into the prison.

The two men in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of Conspiracy to Convey Prohibited Articles into Prison and were later bailed pending further investigations.

PS Dan Canavan from the Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “These latest arrests should serve as a reminder that we take this type of offending seriously and those who choose to engage in this type of crime can expect to be targeted, arrested and prosecuted.

“We have been out regularly patrolling the perimeter of HMP Hindley in recent weeks and have gathered some vital intelligence that assisted us in this arrest, as well as information we can use in the future.

“We recognise the impact this criminality has within the prison establishments and the wider community.”