More than 6,500 prisoners linked to organised crime gangs are helping orchestrate smuggling rackets behind bars, a new study has found.
One in every 13 of England and Wales' 85,500 inmates are involved in, or have connections to, gangs sneaking drugs, weapons and mobile phones over the walls.
The figure, calculated by the National Crime Agency and the Prison Service, reveals for the first time the scale of a problem fuelling a surge in violence and disorder in jails.
Justice Secretary David Lidington used a keynote speech yesterday to warn that smuggling gangs were attacking prisons to exploit the 'captive market'.
Illegal operations to sneak contraband into jails had changed from 'crude and opportunistic' to 'sophisticated and systematic' – including the use of new technologies including smartphones and drones.
He said: 'The fact is, our prisons are facing a clear and present danger from well-organised individuals and criminal networks.
'These are networks that are every bit as professionally operated as a legitimate business but they happen to be engaged in criminal activity.