Pentonville hit by drones blitz as Liz Truss’s barking guard dogs fall asleep at their posts

DRONES flew over a jail for an hour after guard dogs brought in to combat them fell asleep.

Justice Secretary Liz Truss was ridiculed this week when she said hounds “deter” the devices at scandal-hit Pentonville.

She said: “They’ve now got patrol dogs who are now barking which helps deter drones.”

But The Sun on Sunday can reveal that on December 1 two drones were spotted hovering over the prison while the dogs failed to alert officers.

A source said: “Two drones were buzzing the place for ages and not one dog barked.

“The gadgets are believed to have been flying for at least an hour before a member of the public spotted them.

“They rang 999 and reported the incident to police. Prison officers then reacted.

“It seems the dogs were getting some sleep. Maybe they only work 9-5.”

The drones were reported at 2.50am and 3am flying over different wings at the prison.

Glyn Travis of the Prison Officers Association said: “The drone incidents show how difficult it is to prevent airborne smuggling.

“Dogs are useful, but they are not foolproof. We welcome more being allocated to Pentonville, but more staff are also essential.”

No parcel was attached, suggesting a drop had been made.

Ms Truss had originally told MPs the jail had “patrol dogs who are barking, which helps deter drones.”

One Labour MP shouted: “It’s the minister who’s barking.”

Following Miss Truss’s remarks a website for prison officers, Know the Danger, mocked up pictures of patrol dogs as flying drones.

Under a photo shopped snap of an drone like Alsatian dog, complete with Biggles-style goggles, one wag wrote: “Liz Truss’s new patrol dog to prevent drones entering prison.”

One officer wrote: “Fantastic, anybody got the contact details for Buzz Lightyear?”

Pentonville in North London has suffered a number of major incidents this year.

In November cell-mates Matthew Baker, 28, and James Whitlock, 31, escaped from the jail after stuffing their beds with pillows to fool officers. Both have now been recaptured.