THE government is seeking to stop the illegal smuggling of mobile phones into jails by harnessing technology.

The Ministry of Justice is investigating ways to block phone signals in prisons.

It comes as Hampshire police investigate the alleged smuggling of phones into Winchester Prison, highlighted at the sentencing of security officer.

Last week the probe was revealed after Sonya Knight, 22, was given a suspended sentence for misconduct in public office.

The city crown court heard that Knight had formed an inappropriate relationship with an inmate, Jack McRae.

She has told police that the phone McRae used to contact her was illicitly taken into the category B prison by two prison officers.

The prison service plans to challenge network operators to do more, including to develop new solutions to block phones from working in jails.

Legislation has been introduced to allow prisons to use signal-denying technology to suppress the illicit use of wireless telegraphy such as prisoners' mobile phones.

Further legislation is being introduced to allow for court orders to force network operators to disconnect illegal mobile phones being used in a prison.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We have measures in place to detect mobiles in our prisons but we have to look at new ways of blocking them, as well as equipping prison officers with the right tools to tackle this issue.”

The use of mobile phones in prisons is also concerning the independent watchdogs.

The Independent Monitoring Board, in their latest report on Winchester Prison from June 2014-May 2015 highlighted concerns about contraband in the jail.

The report said: “There is a continued challenge to reduce the availability of drugs, mobile telephones and contraband found in the prison.

"New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) such as Spice seem to be the favourite due to their current legal status.

"Quantities of hooch are still being discovered on a regular basis.”

The Winchester branch of the Prison Officers Association was approached for a comment of the allegation of officers smuggling phones inside the jail, but they did not respond.