Drugs and weapons are being delivered via drone to dangerous convicts at HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin in the Midlands at the highest rate anywhere in England and Wales, according to a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.
Described as a “threat to national security”, 220 drones were spotted over Manchester Prison in the 12 months up to October of last year. Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, described the findings as “highly alarming”:
“…the police and prison service have, in effect, ceded the airspace above two high-security prisons to organised crime gangs.”
The report described dangerous inmates with links to organised crime receiving packages of controlled drugs by “burning holes” in what are supposed to be secure windows. A government action plan published in November includes new CCTV systems and netting around the building.
The Ministry of Justice described the issue as an inherited problem, with five prisons receiving damning reports in the space of 12 months; it pointed to Labour’s new policies that aim to reduce prison overcrowding, which it hopes will stem the problem.
Drones are the tip of the iceberg
Social justice charity Nacro has recently responded by emphasising that the use of drones for smuggling is just the latest scary symptom of a deeper underlying problem. Nacro chief executive, Campbell Robb, argues that the solution cannot be limited to tackling the use of drones but must also focus on rehabilitation, giving prisoners “structure [and] a sense of purpose” through work and education.
Manchester Prison has become notorious for unpleasant living conditions, and inspectors called for urgent action in October last year when it was found that vermin infestations and filth were accompanying an increase in drug use and violent crime.
The report did not find that the prison’s problems were the result of overcrowding. Rather it suggested that prison leadership was responsible for allowing the living conditions to become “squalid”. The inspectorate said: “Many cell windows were smashed, and prisoners were ripping up foam from mattresses and pillows to push into the window frame to stop the cold from getting in.”
Data from the prison shows that HMP Manchester, also known as Strangeways, has some of the highest rates of assault and suicide among men’s prisons in England and Wales. Testing found 39% of prisoners were using drugs, a higher-than-average rate. This is not just a problem inside prisons: more people in prison turning to drug use means higher reoffending rates on the outside.
Systemic problems require systemic solutions
Nacro claims that poor conditions in prison and lack of access to proper work and educational opportunities are all driving inmates towards substance abuse in “a vicious cycle of boredom, drug-taking and violence”. HMIP’s report found that only 19% of inmates were leaving their rooms to participate in “purposeful” activities, despite the institution’s purported role as a “training prison”.
In 2017 a former inmate, Cody Lachey, told The Mirror: “At Strangeways, it’s pretty much 23-hour bang-up. You are supposed to get one hour ‘gym’ and one hour association time, when you can walk around on the landing and mix and chat with the other prisoners and play pool.
This hardly ever happens, though. Because of all the cut-backs in the prison service, for the screws it’s much easier to manage us if we’re in our cells most of the time.”
According to the government action plan released in November: “ …the prison will complete a full review of the education on offer and redesign its curriculum by January 2025 to enhance the work opportunities available to prisoners on release.”
Low staff morale
HM Inspectorate also found that staff morale was at an all-time low. Inexperienced staff were often being put in charge of aggressive and dangerous inmates and reported that they did not feel adequately supported by their leaders.
Contractors brought in to do repairs on the damaged windows also told inspectors about instances where they and their families were threatened by inmates.
It was found in 2023 that up to 80% of UK prison officers report low morale, and around half do not feel safe at work.
In an article for The Big Issue, former prison officer Alex South described the benefits of a “personal officer scheme” which aims to create “positive working relationships between staff and prisoners”.
South argued that prisons without proper systems to support prison officers face starkly lower morale which correlates to higher instances of violence and drug abuse. Where officers struggle to find the time to develop relationships with inmates, crowd control becomes nearly impossible.
Alongside the issue of morale, the HMIP’s report flags concerns that staff corruption may be linked to dominance of organised crime at the prison.
All eyes turn to government
The Labour government inherited a struggling prison system impacted by austerity and “tough on crime” policies that focus more on punishment than rehabilitation.
Its responses to the latest damning reports have focused on security and crowd control, despite charities and campaigners warning about the long-term effects of failing to invest in rehabilitation and staff support.
As former inmate Cody Lachey told The Mirror: “There can’t be true rehabilitation if you’re locked up for 23 hours each day, plus you’re learning more and more from other criminals … Just locking people away like that with little thought about what happens on the outside is a recipe for disaster … It’s a matter of get on with your life and for most who leave that life is going to be a life of crime.”
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