The MoJ can't even afford to pay their core staff minimum wage, I'm not suprised they cancelled it. I have a family member working for the MoJ, they have recently been directed that paperclips must always be recycled and highlighters are to be shared one per room because the stationary budget has been frozen. Ridiculous, how can anyone expect a fair and expedient trial/hearing under these circumstances.

"which makes it a criminal offence for staff, visitors and prisoners to bring mobile phones into a prison, with a maximum penalty of 10 years,"

Presumably, if it's specified as "an offence to bring mobile phones...", an already present mobile is OK, thus the person bringing it onsite can keep hold of it providing it doesn't leave the prison (like for court visits etc).

Now, how to make a mobile phone with a battery life of 10 years.......

...don't have any ideas about switching the phone off when it's not needed. It would be so unfair ....

Is the MoJ completely stupid?

Why don't they just negotiate with Ofcom for a special license to install mobile phone blockers per the successful approach used in some USA jails for many years? Not only are they easier to set up, they are cheaper too.

"Why don't they just negotiate with Ofcom for a special license to install mobile phone blockers per the successful approach used in some USA jails for many years?"

They don't even need to negotiate with Ofcom, because it's Crown property. They can block phones in prisons, and the technology exists to do so, without blocking civilians living nearby.

There is only one conclusion........