Drones banned from flying near Vic prisons

Drones will be banned from flying near Victorian prisons in a bid to stop the smuggling of contraband and increase security.

Changes to the Corrections Act were introduced into Victorian Parliament on Tuesday, restricting drones from flying at or below 400 feet above a prison or youth justice centre.

The remote aircraft have been detected over at least seven prisons across the state.

It is feared drones could be used to smuggle in drugs, weapons and mobile phones or do surveillance on facilities.

Those caught flying drones will face a maximum two years in prison, the same penalty as smuggling contraband.

"If someone wants to use a drone to drop contraband into a prison they might find themselves on the wrong side of the wall," Corrections Minister Gayle Tierney said in a statement.