Mobile phones being used by prisoners will be cut off from networks if a new legislation is approved.

As part of the government's Serious Crime Bill, phone networks will be compelled to block mobile phones and Sim cards if they are being used in a prison.

Belmarsh prison in Thamesmead has had a series of problems with mobile phones being smuggled into the prison.

In October 2008, Delphon Nicholas, a Belmarsh inmate, ordered the murder of a man using a smuggled mobile phone.

Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said: "We will never tolerate the use of mobile phones in prisons and will continue to clamp down on their illicit use.

"By ordering a phone to be cut off once it is identified, we will be able to reassure victims and prevent further criminal activity faster and wider than ever before."

If approved, the legislation will mean that once a phone has been identified, the Prison Service will be able to apply to a court for it to be disconnected without needing to seize the phone or prove it is being used by a specific prisoner.

Prisons already use a comprehensive range of searching and security measures to detect contraband as well as body orifice scanners, all helping to tackle the use of mobile phones.

Mr Selous said: "Our range of tough security ,measures has already successfully seen the number of seizures increase, but this proposed new legislation will significantly increase our ability to tackle this problem."

Illicit mobile phones in prisons can lead to bullying and disorder, as well as being used by serious and organised criminals to continue illegal activities such as drug smuggling behind bars.

In 2013, 7451 seizures were made of illicit mobile phones or SIM cards in prisons, however, there are currently no legal obligations for mobile network operators to disconnect unauthorised phones in prisons.