This photo shows detective constable Jim Farrell, part of our new prison based team, alongside HMP Birmingham Prison Director Steve Williams.

Combating crime behind bars is the focus of a unique police-prison partnership working inside HMP Birmingham.

In June this year a permanent police team – consisting of two detectives and two intelligence specialists – moved into the Category B jail tasked with reducing “throw-over” and contraband smuggling offences.

It’s the only such prison-based police unit in the country – and is proving hugely successful.

In 2011 there were 236 incidents of drugs, mobile phones or other contraband – often stuffed inside tennis balls or footballs – being thrown over the perimeter walls of the Winson Green facility.

But so far this year there has been less than 100 such offences, with only two in the whole of August, plus several notable arrests and convictions…leading to the throwers joining their intended recipients behind bars!

Detective Constable Jim Farrell, who previously juggled a part-time prison role around other CID work, said: “We’re surrounded by criminals…but criminality is no more acceptable here than it is out on the streets in our communities.