Prison officers seized 500 drug packages in just six months at a prison where gangsters are continuing to ‘ply their trade’ from their cells, a damning report has revealed.
Staff also discovered 243 mobile phones sneaked into the jail intended for crime bosses to run a lucrative illegal trade from behind bars, according to the prisons watchdog.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) found that HMP Lindholme, a Category C jail near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was one of the worst in the country for drugs and violence.
A ‘shockingly high’ 27 per cent of the prison’s 1,000-plus inmates said they had developed a drug habit since being in the prison – a problem that was ‘far worse’ than at similar establishments.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) found that HMP Lindholme, a Category C jail near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was one of the worst in the country for drugs and violence
More than two-thirds of prisoners interviewed told inspectors that it was easy to get hold of illegal drugs, including ‘zombie drug’ spice which had fuelled a surge in attacks and disorder. Some 4 in 10 convicts were testing positive for illicit narcotics.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke said the jail had a ‘complex and challenging’ population, with around 20 per cent of the inmates having links to organised crime.
It means that about 200 men locked up were linked to serious crime gangs who sneaked drugs, weapons and mobile phones over the walls. Ministers have warned that gangs were attacking prisons to exploit the ‘captive market’.
The watchdog questioned the holding of hundreds of men with links to organised crime in the prison, which is located on the site of a former RAF base and covers approximately 100 acres of land.
The report said: ‘The sheer size of the prison and its perimeter, and the nature and sophistication of its population presented huge challenges to preventing the ingress of drugs.’
Mr Clarke said: ‘Clearly, more must be done to keep drugs out of Lindholme. The lengthy perimeter of the prison is difficult to defend.
‘When this is combined with the linkages of so many prisoners to organised crime and their obvious resourcefulness in getting large quantities of drugs into the jail, it means that further progress will be difficult to achieve.’
He said the prison’s leadership would need their ‘credible plans’ to tackle the problem to succeed if they are to defeat the organised criminals ‘who are determined to continue to ply their trade while serving their sentences’.
The influence of gangs on prison smuggling operations has come under the spotlight as jails across England and Wales attempt to stem the flow of contraband.
The influence of gangs on prison smuggling operations has come under the spotlight as jails across England and Wales attempt to stem the flow of contraband
Authorities estimate there are approximately 6,500 offenders in prison in total who are involved in, or have links to, organised crime – roughly equivalent to one in 13 inmates.
Michael Spurr, chief executive of HM Prison & Probation Service, said: ‘I’m pleased the inspector has acknowledged the progress Lindholme has made in the short time since its last inspection, but appreciate there is more to be done.
‘We are working closely with the Police and National Crime Agency to manage and disrupt organised crime gangs and the prison has a coherent strategy to tackle violence and to improve safety.’
The Ministry of Justice said more than £3million is being spent on measures to tackle drugs, drones and mobile phones including detection equipment and body-worn cameras, while more than £14million has been earmarked for ‘intelligence and search capabilities’.