Annual Report 2025-26
Annual Report, 2025-26, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales
What we found (Back to top)
The widespread ingress of illicit drugs remains a grave threat to stability in prisons. In inspection reports published between April 2025 and March 2026, 41% of men and 38% of women reported that it was easy to get hold of drugs in their jail. Despite repeatedly raising concerns about security failings, inspections continued to find inadequately trained staff, broken CCTV, damaged netting and windows that were easily breached. Organised crime gangs were able to operate with impunity, with sophisticated drones delivering large packages of drugs, anabolic steroids and mobile phones to order.
Despite the prevalence of drugs, Mr Taylor said far too little was being done to reduce demand or to provide any meaningful incentives for prisoners to change their behaviour. Most prisoners spent long hours – sometimes more than 22 a day – locked in their cells with nothing to do. Incentives for good behaviour were rarely meaningful or applied consistently and, apart from a few exceptions, drug recovery wings were ineffective or overrun by drugs. The number of education, work and training places was often far too low, and even when they were available, attendance, punctuality and the quality of teaching were frequently poor. Mr Taylor warned that substantial cuts to education provision and a loss of specialist teaching staff during the year were only likely to exacerbate these problems.
At a cost of £59k a year for each prison place the taxpayer has the right to expect more for their money. In the best jails prisoners live in an environment with clear rules, where they are incentivised to behave. We know that if they are supported to get work on release, recover from drug addiction and maintain meaningful relationships, it is possible to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and, crucially, create fewer victims of crime. For the first time in years, the prison service has some much-needed space in the estate. Now is the time to act and deliver much-needed, long-term change.
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