Five arrests made as police swoop on visitors at two Staffordshire prisons
Dozens of police swooped on two prisons during visiting hours arresting five people for a range of offences which included smuggling drugs into a jail.
More than 50 officers descended on HMP Featherstone and HMP Oakwood between 11am and 2.30pm today.
Visitors and vehicles were searched during the raid.
As well as the arrests the police reported two men for diving offences and seized two cars.
Staffordshire Police warned similar operations would be carried out in the future.
South Staffordshire Deputy Commander Sgt Richard Gorman stated: "Today has been a fantastic opportunity for many agencies to work together conducting a high-visibility day of action around both HMP Featherstone and HMP Oakwood.
"This has been conducted in order to increase public reassurance for those visiting the prisons for lawful purposes and to help protect both prison officers and serving prisoners from harm within.
"The operation was extremely successful, with five people being arrested and two reported for offences. We have seized two vehicles, recovered a substantial quantity of drugs, cash, an offensive weapon and a SIM card. Following today`s success we intend to carry out these types of operations on a regular basis".
The suspects included two men who were arrested for conveying cannabis into prison.
While one man was arrested for providing a positive drug drive test in relation to cocaine as well as conveying steroids into prison.
Another man was arrested for conveying cannabis and a SIM card into a prison as well as possessing an offensive weapon.
And a fifth suspect was detained for conveying an article into a prison as well as cannabis and mamba.
One man was reported for a court summons for disqualified driving and no insurance while another was processed for no insurance of company vehicles.
Those involved in the large-scale operation included South Staffordshire Local Policing Team, neighbourhood, specials and response officers, National Crime Agency, midlands area search team and dogs, G4S prison security staff at the privately ran HMP Oakwood, Staffordshire Police force safeguarding investigation, Staffordshire Police road crime team, and West Midlands regional organised crime unit.
