Drug use and self-harm rife at prison

6 hours ago

Tim PageWest Midlands

News image — Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said tackling drugs was the key to Stoke Heath being able to "flourish"

GOV.UK A man with short greying hair is dressed in a navy blue suit, white shirt and purple tie. He is standing in an office environment with a blurred background in which wooden beams can be seen behind him. — Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said tackling drugs was the key to Stoke Heath being able to "flourish"

Inspectors have found psychoactive drugs were "freely available" at a prison, and there were "very high" levels of self-harm among inmates.

The unannounced inspection took place in February and March at HMP Stoke Heath, near Market Drayton in Shropshire, with a report into the findings published on Monday.

The report said the governor Rachel James had started to address "deep cultural issues" since her arrival a year earlier but prisoners were not engaging sufficiently with activities, leading to boredom.

The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment.

HMIP The exterior of several mid-20th century prison buildings with trees and grass surrounding them. A modern sculpture is visible in front of the buildings. — Inspectors said a new governor at Stoke Heath had started to address "deep cultural issues"

The inspection team said Stoke Heath "felt safe and well-ordered", with two-thirds of inmates saying they were treated with respect by staff.

However, too many men were opting to stay on their wings rather than take part in activities.

Inspectors concluded the boredom contributed to the high level of drug use in the prison.

In random tests, nearly 30% of inmates tested positive for drugs.

Gate security was weak, which increased the risk of illicit items entering the prison.

Work to support prisoners preparing for release was praised in the report as "impressive", despite officers having to liaise with probation teams across a wider catchment area than previously.

The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, said he left the site "with some optimism that if the prison can do more to improve the amount of purposeful activity and reduce the ingress of drugs, then under the positive leadership of the governor and her senior team, Stoke Heath can flourish".

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