Liz Truss mocked after she says ‘barking dogs’ are helping to deter drones from prisons
The Justice Secretary said the aggressive barking of dogs outside prisons could stop people using drones to fly in banned objects
JUSTICE SECRETARY Liz Truss sparked ridicule today by saying barking dogs are being used in the battle to “deter” drones at Britain’s jails.
One Labour MP shouted “it’s the Minister who’s barking” as the Tory said the aggressive canines were part of the war on the radio controlled kit.
Speaking during Justice Questions earlier today, Ms Truss said the Government was reviewing extra measures to stop unmanned aircraft from taking phones, drugs and other banned items into prisons.
Figures earlier this year revealed a huge spike in the number of incidents where lags’ pals had used drones to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into prison cells.
33 incidents of drones flying things in were recorded in 2015, compared to just two the year before.
She told the Commons: "I was at HMP Pentonville last week. They've now got patrol dogs who are now barking which helps deter drones. We are using all kinds of solutions to deal with contraband coming into our prisons," she said.
The extraordinary claim sparked howls of laughter in the Commons.
Ministry of Justice sources last night insisted that barking dogs were useful in alerting prison officers to drones in the sky.
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Ms Truss added the Government was also looking at extra netting.
Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah last month revealed the Government could copy the Dutch and bring in eagles to take out drones being flown over prison walls.
Environment Secretary Ms Truss became a social media star after a speech at the Tory conference in 2014 where she was mocked for saying that she wanted to “open up new pork markets” in Beijing.
Earlier today she doubled down on the “barking” claim when teased by Tory backbencher Victoria Prentis.
The MP asked: “What guidance and training are being given to Governors to ensure that they are able to complete the procurement process properly, be it about mental health service provision, or even the recruitment of dogs that bark at drones?”
Ms Truss replied: “I thank my Honourable friend for her question and it sounds like she’s asking for some of these patrol dogs at her local prison, HMP Bullingdon.”
