Nearly 2,000 Scottish Government funded mobile phones have been confiscated from inmates during the covid pandemic, according to the latest data.
So-called 'unhackable' devices were given to around 7,600 prisoners during the coronavirus lockdown at cost of around £2.7 million.
However, since they were introduced many have been hacked and are now being used for drug deals and other criminal activities.
Calls are now being made for them to be scrapped after 1,899 phones were seized by authorities in Scots prisons since May 2020 due to rule breaches.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that Barlinnie in Glasgow had the most confiscated with 342, while HMP Edinburgh had 262 followed by HMP Shotts which had 196.
The scheme was first introduced by then Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf who announced there would be security restrictions on the phones in line with the current prison landline system.
Inmates are unable to access the internet, send text messages or receive calls.
Prisoner officers raised concerns about the devices and revealed they were hacked after being handed out to inmates.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Community Safety Minister, Russell Findlay said those in jail should have access to their families but the plan "back-fired badly".
He added: “This scheme was introduced in good faith at the start of lockdown but it has become a farce.
"These supposedly un-hackable handsets were compromised almost immediately yet this was kept secret from the public and MSPs.
"It is absolutely right that prisoners should have access to their families, but this ill-conceived scheme has back-fired badly.
"Keith Brown dithered over our demands to stop drug-soaked prison mail before finally introducing new security measures.
"It is now time for him to recall Humza's handsets. They must be withdrawn immediately and permanently, and any replacement must be safe and secure."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "While primarily an operational matter for the prison service, the provision of mobile phones, in the absence of in-person contact over sustained periods of time, has been vital in addressing the negative impacts of COVID-19 in our prisons – for staff, prisoners and families impacted by imprisonment.
"The vast majority of phones issued have been used as intended and – as these figures clearly show – where any breach of the rules takes place this is treated seriously by the prison service."
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