Prison officers tell Channel 4 News security in British jails is now a major issue – to the extent that one convicted murderer is driving prisoners unsupervised from a prison to appointments and work.
Drugs, mobile phones and violence – prison is no longer a deterrent, writes Mark Williams-Thomas
Our criminal justice system considers the most severe punishment a criminal can receive is that of imprisonment. Some criminals are dangerous, others are mentally ill, some have serious addiction problems, and others have just made a serious mistake.
However, what links them all together is that they are in jail, a punishment which should take away their liberty and some of their comforts. But just how hard is it in jail?
Our whistleblower has told us that while there have always been drugs and violence in jails, it is now, in his experience, at unacceptable levels.
All types of drugs, from cannabis, spice, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy – you name it, it’s inside, it’s available. Prison officer
This view seems to be backed up by confidential internal reports, compiled by the National Offender Management Service, that Channel 4 News has seen.
In the last 10 days the following drugs and illicit items have been recovered:
A prison officer, who we have called Andy (not his real name), who agreed to talk on condition of anonymity, told us: “The staff are bringing contraband in. Every jail has a problem with it, would be foolish for anyone to say it wasn’t a problem. Staff bring illicit items in.”
He also told me: “All types of drugs, from cannabis, spice, heroin, cocaine , ecstasy – you name it, it’s inside, it’s available. Just depends on how much you want to pay for it. I’ve been told by prisoners that drugs are easier to get hold of in jail than on the street.”
I have been told by the many officers that I have spoken with that security is a major issue – with cell searches almost non-existent and searching of staff and prisoners often no more than a simple pat-down. This is because of the serious lack of staff, high sickness levels, and low morale among staff.
Over the last five months we have heard of major disturbances at HMP Northumberland, and most recently at HMP Ranby in Nottinghamshire, but the true picture of violence inside our jails is much more worrying.
In the last 10 days Channel 4 News has seen the internal reports of disturbances at HMP Dartmoor, where three prisoners armed with broken broom handles climbed over the railings, and at HMP Parc, where seven prisoners barricaded themselves into an area – and where minor injuries were reported.
Most shockingly, our investigation has revealed that a convicted murderer – who the judge described as committing a premeditated, brutal and savage attack on his wife – is driving prisoners from HMP North Sea Camp to and from appointments and work.
Geoffrey Austin, 69, was convicted in November 1997 for the premeditated murder of his wife Sandra Austin, who he stabbed 17 times. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 14 years.
Austin is in denial, refusing to accept that he killed her, and even though he has served his minimum sentence, he has not been considered suitable for release by the Parole Board.
Yet, shockingly, he is considered safe enough to drive the Prison Service minibus – unsupervised – with just him and multiple prisoners on board, taking them to various locations and dropping and picking them up.
One source within the Prison Service that we spoke to claims that the prisoners call the minibus the “Black Mamba” – the name given to a synthetic cannabinoids drug – because it is used to bring drugs back into the jail.
And while HMP North Sea Camp is a category D “open prison”, is it really acceptable for a brutal murderer – who is still serving his sentence and not yet deemed fit for release – to have sole control and responsibility for other prisoners?
When I asked Andy who runs jails, he said: “I’d like to say the staff, the officers do – and they do to a certain extent. But more and more prisoners haven’t got any respect any more.
“I don’t know if it’s the gang culture that’s outside the prison that they carry on inside the prison, but the respect has gone out of the window. They don’t care any more.
“They seem to think it’s a bit of a joke – it’s like prison is not scary for youngsters any more.”
In response, Justice Minister Andrew Selous said:
“We take allegations by any whistleblower seriously but many of the allegations that Channel 4 News are making are simply not true… the level of positive drug tests in prisons have fallen sharply when compared to a decade ago.
“We do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison and any assault is treated extremely seriously. The level of violence in prisons is lower than it was a decade ago.
“Of course there are sometimes problems – but anyone caught will be dealt with severely and may be referred to the police for prosecution.”