A committee of Members of Parliament (MPs) has issued a warning about the pervasive drug issue in prisons, emphasizing the need to dismantle the culture of acceptance surrounding it. According to the Justice Committee, 39% of inmates have easy access to drugs, leading to severe challenges for the HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) in maintaining order and aiding in prisoner rehabilitation.
A recent report highlighted the significant human toll caused by the crisis, revealing that 16% of the 833 deaths investigated between December 2022 and 2024 were linked to drugs. The committee’s findings also showed that a considerable number of prisoners, 11% of men and 19% of women, have developed substance abuse problems since their incarceration. The rising use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) was identified as a major concern due to their affordability, accessibility, and potency.
To address these issues, the report urged the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and HMPPS to promptly enhance drug testing protocols in prisons and conduct a thorough review of medication dispensing procedures to eliminate loopholes. Additionally, there were calls for increased Mandatory Drug Testing rates and the implementation of wastewater-based surveillance to detect new substances.
Concerns were also raised about the growing use of drones to smuggle drugs, mobile phones, weapons, and potentially more dangerous items into prisons, with a 77% rise in drone sightings between 2019 and 2023.
Labour MP Andy Slaughter, Chair of the Justice Committee, expressed grave concerns over the entrenched drug crisis within the prison system, stressing the urgent need to break the dangerous cycle of drug acceptance. He highlighted the detrimental impact of illicit drug trade on safety, rehabilitation efforts, and overall prison stability, calling for comprehensive reforms to combat the drug epidemic effectively.
The Justice Department has been contacted for further comments.