'Thriving drugs market' at prison due to drones

A prison has been urged to tackle drones delivering drugs after a large number of inmates tested positive for illegal substances.

A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons said Highpoint, near Haverhill, Suffolk, was "generally well run" but faced "serious challenges" around drugs, violence, and education.

The category C men's prison, which has about 1,100 inmates, will become the largest public-sector jail in the country when new accommodation opens in the next two years.

"There was a thriving drugs market within the prison, with random drug tests showing a 28% positive rate," the report said. The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment.

Inspectors said prison leaders had not had "a comprehensive drug reduction strategy" and the prison service had failed to protect the "large, open site" from drones.

Prisoners had cut holes in the grilles to fish for "often large packages" being dropped off, and inspectors frequently smelled cannabis around the prison.

The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, said the "experienced governor had been an effective leader" who ensured "very clean and well-maintained cells and communal areas".

Following the inspection in June, concerns were also raised about an increase in violence, as the rate of serious assaults had risen by 43%.

It comes after 28-year-old inmate Krishan Rawal died following an attack at HMP Highpoint in January.

Highpoint was again rated "poor" for providing meaningful work or purposeful activity.

"Workshops and classrooms were often closed because of shortages of teachers or instructors.

"Having too many prisoners with not enough to do was likely to be a cause of the widespread drug taking," the report said.

Inspectors noted that a serious fire in April had resulted in one block being closed, which "disrupted" some prisoners' progression to a more open regime.

"Credit must, however, go to the offender management unit who were working very long hours to complete sentence recalculations ready for early releases," the report added.

The leaders were also praised for staff development and engagement, a supportive approach to new prisoners, and an "innovative" dental service.

Taylor said: "With the impending growth in the population, the prison service must do more to reduce Highpoint's vulnerability to drones and the leaders at the jail will need to develop a drugs strategy that reduces both supply and demand.

"Much of this will be achieved by providing sufficient, high-quality purposeful activity."

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