A committee of Members of Parliament (MPs) has raised concerns about the prevalent drug issue in prisons, emphasizing the need to challenge the culture of acceptance surrounding the high levels of drug availability. According to the Justice Committee, 39% of inmates can easily obtain drugs, which is significantly impacting the functioning of the HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) in maintaining order and aiding in offender rehabilitation.
The committee’s recent report highlighted the alarming number of deaths linked to drugs within the prison system, with 16% of 833 investigated deaths between December 2022 and 2024 attributed to drug use. The report also revealed that a considerable percentage of incarcerated individuals, 11% of men and 19% of women, have developed substance abuse issues since being imprisoned, particularly with New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) due to their accessibility and potency.
Urgent actions were recommended by the committee to enhance drug testing in prisons and review medication dispensing protocols to address loopholes in the system. Furthermore, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s investigations unveiled a rise in drug-related deaths, prompting a call for increased Mandatory Drug Testing rates and the implementation of wastewater-based surveillance to detect new substances swiftly.
Concerns were also raised regarding the use of drones to smuggle illicit items into prisons, including drugs, mobile phones, weapons, and potentially dangerous materials. The Committee Chair, Labour MP Andy Slaughter, emphasized the critical need to address the endemic drug crisis in prisons, highlighting the detrimental impact on safety, control, and rehabilitation efforts within the system.
The Justice Committee’s inquiry underscored the urgency for reforms and investments to dismantle drug supply networks, counter the demand for drugs, and combat the misuse of advanced drone technology. Failure to address these issues, including the rise in violence, debts, and fatal overdoses linked to potent substances, could perpetuate instability and insecurity in prisons, hindering efforts to control the drug epidemic. The Justice Department has been contacted for further comments.
