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A new report from a prison watchdog indicates that the influx of illicit drugs into prisons across England and Wales is creating instability and undermining rehabilitation efforts.
The chief inspector of prisons’ annual report highlights the use of drones by criminal organizations to smuggle contraband into prisons, where it is then sold to inmates in overcrowded conditions.
“This meant in many jails, there were seemingly uncontrolled levels of criminality that hard-pressed and often inexperienced staff were unable to contain,” wrote Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons.
Prisons Minister Lord Timpson acknowledged the report, stating that it revealed the “scale of the crisis we inherited” and affirmed the government’s commitment to ending the “chaos.”
The report, published on Tuesday, underscores the role of overcrowding and understaffing in limiting rehabilitative activities for prisoners, leading many to drug use as a means of coping with idleness.
For years, both staff and prisoners have expressed concerns regarding the inadequacy of measures to prevent drugs from entering prisons.
A survey of 5,431 prisoners revealed that 39% found it easy to obtain drugs, and 30% of random drug tests yielded positive results.
At HMP Hindley, the positive test rate was nearly double the average.
An inspection of HMP Bedford revealed a lapse of 12 months in random drug testing, despite drugs being recognized as a “significant threat to safety.”
Drugs are reportedly smuggled into prisons via visitors, staff, objects thrown over fences, and drone deliveries.
An inmate serving time for a violent offense told the BBC that acquiring drugs inside was “super easy”.
Speaking from his cell on an illegal phone, he said: “If you want spice [synthetic cannabis] or weed or something stronger, you can get it in a jiffy. Everyone inside knows who’s got some. You can smell it across the wings.”
“The boredom is too much and sometimes you just want something to take your mind off it so you’ll get high.”
According to the report, drones are routinely used to deliver drugs to HMP Manchester and Long Lartin, facilities housing “some of the most dangerous men in the country, including terrorists and organised crime bosses.”
The report cited inadequate physical security measures, and at HMP Manchester, it noted that “inexperienced staff were being manipulated or simply ignored by prisoners.”
Mr. Taylor warned that the failure to address these issues poses a threat to national security.
“The challenge for the prison service must be to work in conjunction with the police and security services to manage prisoners associated with organised crime,” Mr. Taylor said.
“This is a threat that needs to be taken seriously at the highest levels of government.”
The report also found:
Lord Timpson stated that the report underscored the “unacceptable pressures faced by our hardworking staff.”
Addressing overcrowding, he said the government was building 14,000 extra places, with 2,400 already delivered, and “reforming sentencing to ensure we never run out of space again.”
He added that the government had pledged £40m to improve prison security, including enhanced CCTV, new windows and floodlighting.
The Prison Service is also employing x-ray body scanners and detection dogs to combat smuggling.
The government hopes reforms to sentencing will allow more prisoners to be released early, freeing up prison spaces.
However, the presence of drugs in prisons is a long-standing issue, and as long as demand persists, new methods for smuggling them in are likely to emerge.
With drug dealers and addicts incarcerated, and the constant temptation of financial gain, drugs remain an irresistible prospect for many inside.
Lewes Prison saw a rise in self-harm incidents despite better living conditions, a report found.
Paul Yates, currently working in Nottingham, will take on the roll from 1 September.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman raised concerns over the use of restraints during medical care.
Government says £500m plan aims to support an extra half a million more children.
An Essex MP and ex-Tory Home Secretary says the Labour government has “abandoned” the region.
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