"Safety in prisons is being critically undermined by a drugs crisis which has reached endemic levels, MPs have warned, as drone sightings soar by 1,140 per cent. 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 committee called for the Ministry of Justice to ramp up drug testing, including speeding up plans to introduce waste-water surveillance systems, and invest in electronic drone countermeasures known as Sky Fence systems. It comes as Ministry of Justice figures show drone sightings in prisons have soared more than ten-fold in the past five years. A total of 1,712 drones were spotted in the year to March 2025 almost five sightings per day up from just 138 in the same period to March 2021."
Prison safety is being critically undermined by an endemic drugs crisis and a surge in drone activity. Almost four in ten inmates say it is easy to obtain drugs, and many prisons have a menu of illicit substances available. Drug-related deaths numbered 136 in England and Wales jails between December 2022 and 2024. Eleven percent of men and 19 percent of women reported developing problems with drugs, alcohol, or non-prescription medication since arriving in custody. Drone sightings rose to 1,712 in the year to March 2025, up from 138 in 2021, prompting concerns about deliveries of drugs, phones, weapons, and explosives. Recommended measures include expanded drug testing, waste-water surveillance, and investment in electronic drone countermeasures.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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