In a shocking turn of events, HMP Garth, a prison in Lancashire housing over 800 inmates, has been grappling with an unprecedented surge in drug smuggling via drones. Desperate prisoners have resorted to stealing mops and brooms, using their handles to fish out contraband packages dropped by the flying devices. The situation has escalated to such an extent that one inmate described the constant drone activity as akin to “an airport.”
The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, has expressed grave concerns over the “major security issues” plaguing HMP Garth. Violence has skyrocketed by approximately 45%, with many prisoners requiring protection due to drug-related debts. The stolen cleaning implements have become improvised tools for retrieving the illicit cargo, as inmates burn holes in their cell windows to facilitate the entry of the drug-laden drones.
Prison Awash in Cannabis Smell as Windows Shattered
The pungent odor of cannabis permeates the prison, a testament to the rampant drug problem within its walls. Astonishingly, prisoners are damaging windows at a pace that outstrips the prison’s ability to repair them, creating entry points for the illicit drone deliveries. A staggering 63% of the men surveyed admitted that obtaining drugs was a simple task, underlining the severity of the crisis.
Mops and Brooms: The New Currency of Prison Drug Trade
The theft of mops and brooms has become a significant issue, as these seemingly innocuous cleaning tools are repurposed into drug retrieval devices. The prison’s oversight and search procedures have proven woefully inadequate, failing to account for the missing equipment used in the illicit transactions. This glaring security lapse has allowed the drug trade to flourish unchecked.
Staff Shortages and Lack of Training Fuel Crisis
Compounding the prison’s woes are the high levels of staff sickness and insufficient training. This has led to an unwillingness among staff to confront and challenge prisoner misbehavior, resulting in a breakdown of the behavior management system. Cross-deployment from the security team has led to frequent cancellations of searches, further weakening the prison’s ability to stem the flow of drugs.
“There was a time when prisons within the secure estate were among the most stable within the system. When prisons holding some of the most serious offenders in the country cannot control drugs, violence or maintain order, it undermines our confidence in the entire system.”
– Pia Sinha, Chief Executive of the Prison Reform Trust
Government Response: No-Fly Zones and Body Scanners
In an effort to combat the drone menace, the government established 400-meter restricted fly zones around all closed prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales in January. The Ministry of Justice has also emphasized its “zero tolerance” approach towards violence and drugs, highlighting security measures such as X-ray body scanners and anti-drone technology to detect and prevent drug entry.
However, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable in light of the current crisis at HMP Garth. The prison system, inherited by the new government, is in dire need of robust action to regain control and restore order. The situation at HMP Garth serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by prisons across the country in combating the scourge of drug smuggling and its devastating consequences.
As the prison struggles to repair the physical and metaphorical holes in its security, it is clear that a comprehensive approach is needed to address the root causes of the drug epidemic. Enhanced staff training, improved search procedures, and a focus on rehabilitation and support for inmates battling addiction must be prioritized. Only through a concerted effort can prisons like HMP Garth hope to stem the tide of drugs and violence that threaten to engulf them.
