A committee of Members of Parliament has raised concerns about the pervasive drug issue in prisons, emphasizing the need to dismantle the culture of tolerance surrounding the high levels of drug availability. According to the committee’s report, 39% of inmates can easily access drugs, leading to severe challenges for the HM Prisons and Probation Service in maintaining order and aiding in prisoner rehabilitation.
The report highlighted the significant human toll of the crisis, revealing that 16% of the 833 deaths investigated between December 2022 and 2024 were linked to drug use. Furthermore, the committee discovered that a considerable number of prisoners, 11% of men and 19% of women, developed substance abuse problems after entering prison, with a concerning trend towards the use of New Psychoactive Substances due to their affordability, accessibility, and potency.
To address these issues, the report urged the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and HMPPS to promptly update drug testing protocols in prisons and conduct a thorough review of medication dispensing procedures to eliminate loopholes. Moreover, the committee called for an increase in Mandatory Drug Testing rates and the swift implementation of wastewater-based surveillance to detect emerging substances.
The report also raised alarms about the escalating use of drones to smuggle not only drugs and mobile phones but also weapons, firearms, and explosives into prisons, with a notable 77% rise in drone sightings around prison facilities between 2019 and 2023.
Andy Slaughter MP, Chair of the Justice Committee, emphasized the urgent need to address the endemic drug crisis in prisons, citing the detrimental impact on safety, control, and rehabilitation efforts within the prison system. He highlighted the concerning influence of organized criminal groups supplying drugs to prisons and the pressing necessity to curb demand, combat the use of advanced drone technology, and tackle the risks posed by potent substances.
The Justice Department has been contacted for a response regarding the findings.