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HMP Garth

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Inspection report - Garth (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Garth by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (29 July–8 August 2024)

Garth healthy prison scores

A bar chart showing HMP Garth healthy prison outcomes for 2022 and 2024. Safety declined from reasonably good to not sufficiently good. Respect, purposeful activity and preparation for release remained the same at not sufficiently good, poor and reasonably good respectively.

What we found

HMP Garth, part of the long-term and high security estate, is facing major security issues from the ingress of drugs and a breakdown in safety and security, with around a 45% increase in violence and many prisoners needing protection because of drug-related debt. Prisoners were burning holes in their windows to allow the entry of drones laden with contraband, the smell of cannabis was rife. Sixty-three per cent of men surveyed said it was easy to get hold of drugs with one, referring to the sheer number of drones coming into the prison, describing the jail as having become an ‘airport’.

Garth holds some very serious offenders. Although the governor had a good understanding of the many challenges the prison faced, without better support from the regional team and the prison service it will continue to be a jail of real concern. It is imperative that the prison service finds a way to stem the ingress of drones to reduce the supply of drugs into prisons like Garth, so they can begin to reduce violence and get men out of their cells and into a full day’s work and training. Staff attendance and capability will need to improve significantly and without substantial investment from the prison service, drugs will continue to flow into this troubled jail.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
Read the full press release

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Easy read summary – Garth
(PDF, 315 KB)
Population statistics – Garth
(PDF, 145 KB)
Prisoner survey methodology and results – Garth
(PDF, 361 KB)
Prisoner survey analysis (Excel workbook) – Garth
(XLSX, 318 KB)
Staff survey methodology and results – Garth
(PDF, 243 KB)

Action plan

HM Prison and Probation Service Action Plan – Garth
(PDF, 280 KB)