Prison boss axes day release for inmates because they were using it to smuggle drugs

A prison has banned inmates from day release because they were smuggling in drugs on their return.

Officers were told that offenders were being threatened by other inmates into bringing back illicit substances.

They were concealing the drugs inside their bodies to avoid detection.

The drastic move by HMP Brixton in south London is further evidence of the scale of the drugs epidemic inside jails.

The decision goes against a general policy of using day-release schemes to help inmates adjust to life outside prison.

But Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke credited it with bringing about a transformation of conditions inside the jail. 

In 2017 – before the ban was introduced – around 35 per cent of inmates tested positive in random drugs tests. But this figure is now just 15 per cent.

Mr Clarke said: ‘The decision was taken to stop the use of release on temporary licence, and the evidence shows that this clearly had a huge impact on the availability of drugs. This was obviously a very serious step to take, and there was some concern that HM Inspectorate of Prisons would criticise the decision.

‘On the contrary, my view is that this was precisely the type of bold, strategic decision that senior management needed to take.’

Officers were told that offenders were being threatened by other inmates into bringing back illicit substances. They were concealing the drugs inside their bodies to avoid detection. A file photo of a prison is used above [File photo]