14 DAY TRIAL // There are some places where mobile phone use is simply unacceptable. Prisons would be one of them, this being a good enough reason for the introduction of a mobile phone jamming technology. A 12-month trial conducted in New Zealand prisons has just been successfully completed, as the Minister of Corrections, Vodafone and Telecom say.
Mobile phone signal blocking is one feature that has high chances of being useful under many other circumstances. All the "no cellphone use" signs that some people ignore will be simply useless once the possibility to place calls is banned from handset owners.
Using this jamming technology in prisons is a matter of safety, making sure that inmates do not secretly use cellulars. Their connection with the outside world is prohibited and phone calls should be closely monitored. This prevents them from controlling crime schemes even from within the prison's walls, one thing which has happened in the past too.
Vodafone, Telecom and the Department of Corrections signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which stated their intention to join forces in order to reach efficient results in this matter. "With the technical trials completed, and the MoU Agreement in place, work can now begin to apply the most effective technologies to combat unauthorised cellphone use in each prison site in New Zealand", said Greg Patchell, Group Technology Officer for Telecom, and Tom Chignell, Corporate Affairs General Manager for Vodafone.
The new jamming technology will start being implemented within the next six weeks, although not at a full scale. Some prisons have experienced contraband problems, but are working on finding solutions for these cases too. Along with this measure, legislation will also state that any inmate, prison contractor, or staff member found carrying a mobile phone will have to face a fine of USD 5,000 or a year in jail. That surely takes out the "cell" out of the "cellphone" concept.