Three men arrested after suspicious package dropped by drone into prison grounds

Three people are currently in custody following suspicious activity near Erlestoke Prison.

Police were called to the area at approximately 1.30am today (1/9) following reports from prison staff that a drone had been seen flying over the prison believed to have dropped a package of suspicious items into the prison grounds.

Officers made way to the area and spotted a Nissan Qashqai which was stopped on Bath Road, Melksham, heading towards Shaw.

The occupants of the vehicle were seen to throw a drone from the vehicle which has been recovered and seized.

Three men, aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s, from the Bristol area, were arrested on suspicion of throwing a prohibited article into a prison.

All three are in custody at Gablecross for questioning.

Sgt Steve Edwards, of the Volume Crime Team, said: “Officers have done an excellent job in locating and seizing a drone and arresting three individuals so quickly after receiving the initial call. We are now progressing with our enquiries.

“Conveying prohibited items into a prison will not be tolerated and we take reports like this seriously. We have a positive and proactive relationship with colleagues at HMP and we will continue to work closely with the staff there as part of this investigation and to prevent further incidents of this nature taking place.”

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 54230092035.