Recent statistics from Correctional Service Canada (CSC) reveal a concerning increase in drone activity around Canadian prisons, especially in delivering drugs, weapons, and other contraband to inmates. Collins Bay Institution in Kingston, for instance, saw nearly 100 drone deliveries in 2022, a significant rise from just 10 deliveries five years ago. The situation has raised alarm among correctional officers, and while CSC pledged funds for radar-based drone detection equipment, progress has been slow, and some facilities lack the budget to install such systems.
In the United States, a similar issue with drone deliveries to prisons has emerged, and it’s challenging to accurately track incidents due to the lack of formal reporting policies and limited drone detection technology in the past. Preventing these deliveries is complicated by a complex web of laws around surveillance, security, and privacy. Solutions such as radar or cameras for counter-drone surveillance have been proposed, but the implementation varies among correctional institutions nationwide. Finding effective ways to combat this rising drone threat remains a challenge both in Canada and the US.
This post is based on a larger article published on FLYING, an avation magazine. Below theres a video covering this problem by CBC News (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).