 Prisoners can only call their designated numbers |
The High Court has backed a prison governor's decision to restrict phone calls inmates can make, to reduce drug problems in prison. A judge rejected a legal challenge by Mark Taylor, serving life for murder, that the system at Risley Prison in Cheshire infringed his human rights.
On Friday Mr Justice McCombe ruled the prison's policy was justified.
Governor Paul Norbury said Risley was among the worst category C prisons in the country for drug use.
The prison is located between Manchester and Liverpool, both which have with high levels of drug dealing.
PIN system
There were several organised gangs which provided drugs to prisoners, Mr Norbury said.
He added that controlling outside phone calls was "a vital part of the strategy" to combat the problem.
A PIN phone system at the prison involves inmates being allowed a certain amount of designated numbers which they can call.
Mr Justice McCombe warned that, although he had ruled the system was justified at Risley at present, that should not be taken as "carte blanche" approval for all prisons.
One-Minute World News 
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