Prison drug crisis ‘endemic’ as sightings of drones soar

Safety in prisons is being “critically undermined” by a drugs crisis which has reached “endemic levels”, MPs have warned, as drone sightings soar.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN CRIME CORRESPONDENT

The cross-party justice committee has called for urgent action after finding almost four in 10 inmates admit it's easy to get drugs, with many prisons having a "menu" of illicit substances on offer.

A major report published by the committee on Friday warned of the "unacceptable" human cost of the crisis, with 136 drug-related deaths in jails in England and Wales between December 2022 and 2024.

MPs heard that inmates in debt were being forced to test new drugs, sometimes for the entertainment of other prisoners, while staff becoming desensitised to daily suffering was a sign of a "failed system".

The report found 11 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women said they had developed a problem with drugs, alcohol or nonprescription medication since arriving in prison.

The committee called for the Ministry of Justice to ramp up drug testing, including speeding up plans to introduce wastewater surveillance systems, and invest in electronic drone countermeasures known as "Sky Fence" systems.