BULLINGDON Prison near Bicester is one of a number of jails where drones have been used to smuggle goods to prisoners, a new report has confirmed.

The remote-controlled miniature flying machines are being increasingly used to illegally deliver drugs, mobile phones and other banned items.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request show that in 2013 none of the unmanned craft were discovered in or around English prisons.

But in 2014 this rose to two incidents, rocketing to 33 in 2015 – an increase of 1,550 per cent in that period.

Items discovered include just the drones themselves, drugs, mobile phones and chargers, and USB drives.

Mike Rolfe, national chairman elect of the Prison Officers Association (POA), said: "The use of drones to smuggle traditional drugs, NPS (legal highs) and mobiles phones into prisons is of serious concern.

"The POA has long pushed for increased staffing resource to tackle the security issue that drones present.

"The additional resource should be used to increase operational staffing within establishments, allowing for the recovery of parcels delivered to prisoners by drones through cell checks and prisoner searches.

"This includes pressing NOMS (National Offender Management Service) for measures to tackle drones such as ground patrols and secure windows on cells.

"The use of illicit mobiles phones allows for increased criminal activity and distress to victims and their families.

"The trafficking of illegal drugs and legal highs hampers rehabilitation, breeding violence, bullying and gang culture.

"All of these issues are on the increase, with the use of drones supporting this criminality."

Prisons most affected by drone incidents between 2014 and 2015 were HMP Onley in Northamptonshire, topping the list with four, followed by Leicester, Ranby and Swansea on three, and Bedford, Wandsworth and Manchester clocking two each.

Her Majesty's prisons recording one occurrence include Lindholme, The Mount, Whatton, Leeds, Eastwood Park, Liverpool, Norwich, Glen Parva, Huntercombe near Nuffield in South Oxfordshire, Wormwood Scrubs, Full Sutton, Guys Marsh, Long Lartin, Bullingdon near Bicester, Wealstun and Oakwood.

The Ministry of Justice said: "Incidents involving drones are rare, but we remain constantly vigilant to all new threats to prison security."

One of the biggest finds listed was when a drone with drugs, mobile phone, a charger and USB cards was discovered in December last year at HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire.