Tackling drugs in prisons

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 17 Dec 2024 Closed: 22 Apr 2026 Parliament page
The Justice Committee has launched an inquiry that will examine the scale and impact of drugs in prisons in England and Wales, including the primary factors driving demand. The inquiry will consider the implications of drug misuse in prisons including safety, security, staffing and prisoner well-being. The inquiry will look … Read more
11 Recommendations
30 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
9 Jan
2026
Report published
31 Oct
2025
Report published
22 Jul
2025
Correspondence
8 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
8 Jul
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
25 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 13, Palace of Westminster
25 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
25 Feb
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
8 Jul 2025
View on parliament.uk
Matt Grey · HM Prison and Probation Service Richard Vince CBE · HM Prison and Probation Service The Lord Timpson OBE DL · Ministry of Justice
25 Feb 2025
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Babafemi Dada · HMP Long Lartin Charlie Taylor · HM Inspectorate of Prisons Dame Carol Black Elisabeth Davies · Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) Natalie McKee · HMP Hindley Rob Luxford · HMP Liverpool
Title HC No. Published Items Response
6th Report - Tackling the drugs crisis in our prisons HC 557 31 Oct 2025 41 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
24 results
Clear
161 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Restore consistent, high-volume Mandatory Drug Testing across the entire prison estate.
Mandatory Drug Testing rates do not reliably measure drug prevalence. The MoJ’s own admission that resource constraints limit its capacity for MDT testing and therefore its ability to produce robust, publishable data demonstrates the failure of the current approach. The … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges prison wastewater testing could offer insight but is not yet in a position to commit to its wider rollout due to it being an emerging area of expertise. It is leading a structured research and development programme to understand insights from prison wastewater analysis.
Ministry of Justice
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162 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Increase Mandatory Drug Testing rates across prisons to at least pre-pandemic levels.
The MoJ and HMPPS must increase MDT rates to at least pre-pandemic levels. An immediate and mandatory intervention from regional or national HMPPS command, including the deployment of specialist teams to ensure testing is reinstated immediately, should be triggered. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response
The government discusses existing policies for suspended punishments and rehabilitative activities following a positive test, and states it will promote further use of these options. However, it does not address the recommendation to increase Mandatory Drug Testing rates to pre-pandemic levels or mandate interventions.
Ministry of Justice
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164 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Revise drug testing policy for dual response: disciplinary action and treatment referral.
The MoJ and HMPPS must revise the drug testing policy to ensure that positive test results consistently trigger a dual response: swift and certain disciplinary action (with a rehabilitative element) and an immediate, 60 mandatory referral for a clinical needs … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on measures to prevent the diversion and misuse of prescription medication within prisons, including improved guidance on supervising medicine queues from 2026. It does not directly address the recommendation for a dual disciplinary and mandatory clinical referral response to positive drug test results.
Ministry of Justice
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167 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Consistently update prison drug testing methods to detect evolving New Psychoactive Substances.
The MoJ and HMPPS must consistently update prison drug testing methods to enable the detection of the constantly changing chemical makeup of these NPS, including synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic opioids. Robust data collection should be expanded to include drug purity/potency … Read more
Government Response
The government's response does not address the recommendation to update drug testing methods or expand data collection on NPS purity/potency. Instead, it rejects mandating universal take-home naloxone kits for prisoners, while detailing existing naloxone provisions and training for prison staff.
Ministry of Justice
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168 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Implement new secure systems for distributing and administering prison medication to prevent diversion.
HMPPS should conduct an urgent review of all prescription medication dispensing procedures within prisons to identify and close loopholes exploited for diversion and introduce enhanced supervision of medication queries. New secure systems for distributing and administering medication must be implemented … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on staff training for emergency medical responses, including First Aid and Naloxone use, and general drug awareness resources. It does not address the recommendation to review medication dispensing procedures, close loopholes, or implement new secure distribution systems to prevent diversion.
Ministry of Justice
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169 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
High prison population and overcrowding exacerbate drug demand by limiting purposeful activity and support.
The high prison population and overcrowding lead to a lack of purposeful activity and poor mental health support which exacerbate the existing drivers of drug demand. Efforts to reduce demand are therefore made more challenging and complex. This undermines any … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on safeguarding staff from drug exposure, outlining existing risk assessments, reporting procedures, and support systems for affected staff. It does not address the committee's conclusion regarding how high prison populations and overcrowding exacerbate drug demand by limiting purposeful activity and mental health support for prisoners.
Ministry of Justice
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170 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Expand access to purposeful activities and training programmes for prisoners to reduce drug demand.
The MoJ must expand access to purposeful activities, including education, vocational training, accredited work programmes and constructive recreational opportunities to prevent prisoners turning to drugs as a result 61 of boredom. We ask that the MoJ provides the Committee with … Read more
Government Response
The government primarily discusses the existing adjudications policy and plans to strengthen sanctions under the Earned Progression Model, including doubling the maximum additional days awarded for drug-related incidents. It does not detail specific plans to expand access to purposeful activities for prisoners.
Ministry of Justice
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171 Recommendation Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Ensure mandatory specialised training for all HMPPS staff in substance misuse and trauma-informed care.
The Government must urgently accelerate and broaden the scope of training under the ‘Enable Programme’ to ensure all HMPPS staff, particularly prison officers, receive mandatory, specialised training in substance misuse, trauma-informed care and drug dependency. This training should be a … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on robust security measures to prevent drugs entering prisons, including drug trace detection equipment and X-ray body scanners, and continuously reviewing substances for testing. It does not address the recommendation to accelerate and broaden staff training on substance misuse and trauma-informed care via the Enable Programme.
Ministry of Justice
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173 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Drug-related medical emergencies strain prison staff and reduce purposeful activity, fueling drug demand.
Every drug-related medical emergency in prison, especially when fatal, is a needless tragedy. The significant number of ’code blues’ in some prisons adds to the significant strain already being experienced by staff. This leads to regime restrictions and increased time … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on investments in robust security infrastructure for 2025/26, including CCTV upgrades, perimeter systems, and new Facilities Management contracts. They are also considering enhancing CCTV with AI and analytics, but this does not address the committee's conclusion about medical emergencies impacting purposeful activity and drug demand.
Ministry of Justice
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174 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Mandate universal rollout of take-home naloxone kits and training for all leaving custody.
The MoJ and NHS England, or its successor, must mandate the immediate, universal rollout of take-home naloxone kits for all individuals leaving custody. This must be coupled with comprehensive, compulsory training for all prisoners and staff. This public health measure … Read more
Government Response
The government's response does not address the recommendation to mandate universal take-home naloxone kits or provide compulsory training. Instead, it details existing external and internal scrutiny mechanisms for prison security, including HMIP inspections and HMPPS Security Audits.
Ministry of Justice
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175 Recommendation Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Mandate consistent and comprehensive training for all frontline staff on responding to medical emergencies.
HMPPS must mandate that all frontline staff receive consistent, up-to- date and comprehensive training in responding to medical emergencies. The current inconsistency in staff preparedness is unacceptable. All staff should be required to complete training on how to identify and … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses strengthening personnel vetting processes, including re-vetting staff every three to five years and improving information sharing, rather than addressing the recommendation for consistent medical emergency training for frontline staff.
Ministry of Justice
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176 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
High prevalence of drugs, particularly NPS, poses an unacceptable threat to prison staff safety.
The high prevalence of drugs in prisons, particularly NPS, poses an unacceptable and direct threat to the safety and well-being of prison staff. The current reality of staff becoming “desensitised” to daily suffering is a sign of a failed system … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on rigorous recruitment processes for frontline staff, with planned enhancements to assessment methods by Q4 2025/26, rather than directly addressing the risks to staff from drug prevalence in prisons.
Ministry of Justice
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177 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Regard staff exposures to drugs as serious workplace safety violations requiring immediate investigation.
HMPPS must regard staff exposures to drugs as serious workplace safety violations, not as a normal part of the job and must take immediate action to investigate and resolve the causes of such incidents. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67)
Government Response
The government's response discusses tackling Serious and Organised Crime related to drone incursions and illicit mobile phones, declining to lead dedicated task forces for organised crime, rather than addressing staff exposure to drugs as a workplace safety violation.
Ministry of Justice
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178 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Significant backlog in adjudication process undermines prison discipline and progression model
The significant backlog in the adjudication process, acknowledged by the Prisons Minister, undermines discipline in prisons. While current policy allows governors to balance punishment with support, we received evidence which shows this is not happening consistently. Some prisoners face no … Read more
Government Response
The government's response details its efforts to counter drone technology threats to prisons, including security upgrades commencing by the end of 2025, rather than addressing the backlog in the adjudication process or its impact on the Earned Progression model.
Ministry of Justice
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179 Recommendation Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Require balancing prisoner punishments with mandatory drug treatment referrals and resourcing consistent adjudications
We recommend that punishments, such as the loss of privileges, are balanced with a mandatory referral to drug treatment services. This ensures that individuals are held accountable while also directed towards the support they need to break the cycle of … Read more
Government Response
The government's response outlines measures to prevent and detect illicit mobile phones and contraband, including new mobile phone capabilities and updated operational guidance, rather than addressing the balance of punishment with drug treatment referrals or resources for drug-related adjudications.
Ministry of Justice
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180 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Inconsistent deployment of security measures undermines their effectiveness against criminal networks
Our observations confirmed that existing security measures, such as sniffer dogs, are often deployed in an inconsistent manner. For example, drug detection dogs being used for only a few instances in a day in some prisons, rather than as part … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on the existing Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) and its role in disrupting the illicit economy within prisons, rejecting the need for a new system beyond current arrangements, rather than addressing the inconsistent deployment of physical security measures like sniffer dogs.
Ministry of Justice
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181 Recommendation Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Allocate dedicated capital funding for advanced prison detection technology and software updates
The Government must allocate dedicated capital funding for the accelerated acquisition and maintenance of advanced trace detection technology and full-body scanners in all prisons. This investment must include a mandated requirement for rapid, regular software library updates for all drug … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses managing prisoners linked to Organised Crime Groups and researching the impact of debt within prisons, rejecting the segregation of individuals based solely on OCG involvement, rather than committing to funding for advanced drug detection technology.
Ministry of Justice
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182 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Develop and enforce national secure protocol for verifying prison legal correspondence
HMPPS must rapidly develop and enforce a national, secure protocol for verifying legal correspondence (e.g., mandatory secure digital portals or standardised, verifiable bar-code systems) across all prisons to eliminate the exploitation of privileged mail. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80) Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on NHS England's role in delivering substance misuse services in prisons, including revising the National Substance Misuse Service Specification by Summer 2026, rather than addressing the recommendation for a secure protocol for verifying legal correspondence.
Ministry of Justice
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183 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Systemic failure to maintain prison physical security measures due to delays and inadequate resourcing
Our evidence overwhelmingly points to a systemic failure to maintain physical measures which act as prisons’ first line of defence. The operational effectiveness of physical security is being defeated by avoidable delays in maintenance, inadequate resourcing and overly bureaucratic procurement … Read more
Government Response
The government's response outlines efforts to improve the interoperability of health and MoJ IT systems, including a re-procurement of clinical systems in early 2026 and the development of a digital service for data sharing, rather than addressing the maintenance of physical security infrastructure.
Ministry of Justice
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184 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Empower prison governors with authority for rapid procurement and repair of security infrastructure
Governors must be empowered with delegated authority and a streamlined process to rapidly procure and repair essential security infrastructure, particularly perimeter netting and functional CCTV systems, within a mandatory timeframe; for example, 72 hours for critical repairs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 85) Read more
Government Response
The government's response addresses individual drug and alcohol treatment plans, stating that the revised service specification will make transferability a core function, but defers accepting the specific element of transferring plans via p-NOMIS. This response does not address empowering governors for rapid security infrastructure repairs.
Ministry of Justice
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185 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Conduct proactive, unannounced annual inspections of physical security measures across all prisons
An independent security audit team, or existing reporting body, must conduct proactive, unannounced inspections of physical security measures, such as netting, window security and CCTV functionality, at every prison annually, regardless of the prison’s category. A response and action plan … Read more
Government Response
The government response discussed local authority responsibilities for drug and alcohol treatment and funding, completely unrelated to the recommendation for independent prison security audits.
Ministry of Justice
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186 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Align HMPPS personnel vetting requirements with tier-one security agencies and mandate lifelong vetting
HMPPS must immediately commit to aligning its personnel vetting requirements with those of other tier-one security and law enforcement agencies, such as the police. While the nature of the work differs, the threat profile is comparable. This alignment must establish … Read more
Government Response
The government response detailed increased NHS England funding for prison substance misuse services and new priority areas for treatment, completely unrelated to the recommendation for aligning HMPPS personnel vetting requirements.
Ministry of Justice
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187 Conclusion Deferred
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Amend HMPPS recruitment to mandate face-to-face interviews by local governors for frontline staff
HMPPS must amend its recruitment process to ensure that all frontline staff, including prison officers, undergo a mandatory face-to-face interview process led by local governors. This critical step addresses the identified deficiency in governors not having direct involvement in the … Read more
Government Response
The government response outlined plans for research into psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for psychoactive substances and synthetic opioids, completely unrelated to the recommendation for mandatory face-to-face interviews in HMPPS recruitment.
Ministry of Justice
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188 Conclusion Deferred
6th Report - Tackling the drugs cr…
Reliance on staff sightings underestimates serious threat of increasing drone incidents
We are alarmed by the rapid increase in drone incidents over the last three years, as confirmed by HMPPS’s own data. The current reliance on staff sightings to detect drones, as noted in the HMPPS Annual Digest, is insufficient and … Read more
Government Response
The government response detailed the funding and rollout of Incentivised Substance-Free Living (ISFL) units and efforts to reduce drug demand, completely unrelated to the committee's concerns about increasing drone incidents in prisons.
Ministry of Justice
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Government Response AI assessment · 41 of 11 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 8
Acknowledged 2
Deferred 24
Rejected 1
Total 11 recs + 30 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
22 Jul 2025 Correspondence from Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, dated 22 July 2025 relating to the oral evidence session held on 8 July 2025
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