Oakwood prison officers arrested over mobile phone smuggling

They were arrested at the prison after members of the West Midlands regional organised crime unit and HMP Oakwood's security team swooped.

The two arrests were made around 9am on Friday, January 27.

The two officers, a 23-year-old woman from Cannock and a 27-year-old man from Bilston, have been bailed pending further inquiries after being arrested on suspicion of bringing, throwing or conveying a List A prohibited article into or out of a prison.

The deputy director at Oakwood, Sean Oliver, said the prison expected 'the highest standards of integrity' from those working inside and that the prison will 'always take action' if it finds wrongdoing.

In a statement he said: "These arrests as part of a joint operation between West Midlands regional organised crime unit and HMP Oakwood security team, send a strong message to those inside and outside the prison.

"We expect the highest standards of integrity from those working at the prison and if there is any suggestion that a member of the team has undermined the good work of their colleagues, we will always take action."

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "I can confirm that a 23-year-old female from Cannock and a 27-year-old male from Bilston were arrested on January 27, 2017, on suspicion of bring/throw/convey a List A prohibited article into/out of a prison.

"Both were bailed pending further inquiries."

Opened in April 2012, Oakwood, based in Featherstone in South Staffordshire, is the country's largest prison.

It can hold more than 2,000 inmates and is run by the private security firm G4S, which also runs HMP Birmingham – the scene of last month's riots.

Since it opened, the Category C decision has come in for criticism as it has struggled with a number of issues.

As reported by the Express & Star last week, six people died in the jail last year, the highest amount since it opened. The jail did not record a single death in 2015.

In 2013 a report was released that stated drugs were 'easier to get than soap' in the jail.

Oakwood has also seen increasing levels of violence in recent years, in line with other prisons across the country.