Bills aim to jam cellphones in jails

Cellphones smuggled into cells by prisoners will soon be jammed by newly installed technology, as the Government seeks to clamp down on the growing problem of contraband cellphones.

Corrections Minister Phil Goff's Corrections Amendment Bill (No 2), introduced yesterday to Parliament, permits the electronic detection, monitoring, disabling and disruption of wireless transmissions within prison boundaries, as well as increases penalties for staff who are caught delivering banned items to prisoners.