The UK’s Justice Minister warned that micro-cell phones the size of a thumb are being smuggled more and more into prisons and into the hands of inmates.
Minister David Lidington said the device was advertised as being able to bypass security electronic scanners because it did not contain metal.
The super small phone has all the normal calling functions.
Phones called “Beat the BOSS” can be purchased online for each, but when turned into a smuggled item in prison, the price of the phone can be as high as 0.
In 2016 alone, in UK prisons, the police discovered at least 20,000 smuggled phones and sim cards of all kinds. One-third of the phones found were under the brand “Beat the BOSS”.
Speaking on December 18, Minister Lidington said: “It is clear that these super-tiny phones are advertised and sold for the purpose of smuggling. I urge online sellers and sales websites to take down the products.” Currently, mini mobile phones are being sold on buying and selling websites such as Amazon, Gumtree or eBay.
Super small size of the phone.
This mini super product can be used by criminals to conduct missions and intimidate victims right behind bars.
The Department of Justice had to invest £2 million in equipment to detect phones used in prisons.
A mini phone that weighs only 13 grams, has a 0.49-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 64 x 12 pixels and has a memory to store 300 contact numbers.