PRISON BROKE
Assaults and drugs finds hit record highs in ‘catastrophic’ year for UK’s prisons that should ‘shame; the Government
Drug finds are up by 23 per cent, assaults on staff hit 9,000, and around two mobile phones are confiscated every hour
THERESA May was told to draw up “emergency plans” for Britain’s prisons yesterday after record levels of drug finds and assaults plus a surge in escapes.
Furious MPs and campaigners said the wave of “catastrophic” official figures released by the Ministry of Justice should shame the Government.
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The MoJ said prison drug finds were up 23 per cent to 13,119 in 2017 and one in FIVE tests on lags for psychoactive substances were positive.
There were also more than 9,000 assaults on prison officers in 2017-2018, showing a staggering 26 per cent rise over the previous year.
The MoJ added there were 15,036 mobile phones seized last year – almost two handsets every hour – and 9,345 SIM cards.
And there were 139 “absconds” from temporary release, up 53 on the previous 12 months. Some 24 fugitives are “still at large”.
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The MoJ added that 24.2 per cent of prisoners were housed in “crowded” conditions and there were 127 hostage incidents last year.
The Prison Officers Association said the situation was “catastrophic” and that it was considering what action could be taken to protect members.
The association’s general secretary Steve Gillan said: “There are horror stories every single week. Just the other day I was at a prison where they found £30,000-worth of drugs catapulted over the wall into the yard.
“The Ministers talk a good game but no matter what they try they can’t deliver.”
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Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon called for an emergency plan and new funds to make prisons “safe”.
He said: “What we’re seeing here are the dire consequences of austerity. Despite all the rhetoric from the Government, we now have an assault every 20 minutes in our prisons and the number of prisons labelled as being of ‘serious concern’ is at its highest in years.”
Prisons Minister Rory Stewart told The Sun last month that he wanted a “back to basics” approach at ten of the worst performing prisons in the country.
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The Government has also vowed to introduce airport-style scanners at jails in the war against drugs.
Earlier this week Justice Secretary David Gauke announced a £9 million pilot scheme to tackle drugs in HMP Holme House. It was one of 39 jails where performance was labelled as “concerning” last year.
In a statement, Mr Gauke said the Government was committed to ensuring prisons were places “of rehabilitation, ultimately reducing reoffending and protecting the public”.
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