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Drones dropping drugs and weapons into high security prisons are a threat to national security

Published:

The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, has called for urgent action to tackle drones which are frequently bringing in drugs and weapons to prisons holding some of the most dangerous men in the country, including terrorists and organised crime bosses.

Inspections of HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin in September and October revealed serious concerns with safety and security, with the situation at Manchester so bad that Mr Taylor issued an Urgent Notification for improvement to the Secretary of State.

Both jails had thriving illicit economies of drugs, mobile phones and weapons, and basic security measures such as protective netting and CCTV had been allowed to fall into disrepair. At Manchester prisoners were burning holes in supposedly secure windows so they could continue to receive regular deliveries by drone. Some of these had increasingly large payloads, which had the potential to lead to serious disruption and potential escape.

A staggering 39% of prisoners had tested positive in mandatory drug tests at Manchester, and at Long Lartin 50% of those who responded to our survey said it was easy to get drugs and alcohol. Violence and self-harm at both jails had increased, in part driven by drugs and the accompanying debt prisoners found themselves in. There had been six self-inflicted deaths at Manchester since our last inspection in 2021, with a seventh taking place a few weeks after our visit. It was now one of the most violent prisons in the country, with a high number of serious assaults against prisoners and staff. Many officers lacked confidence, were demoralised, and were struggling to manage experienced prisoners who were serving long sentences for serious crimes.

Conditions were grim at both prisons, with widespread dirt, damp and litter. Manchester had a chronic rodent infestation, many cell windows were smashed and prisoners used torn-up foam from mattresses and pillows to keep out the cold. Inspectors found 38% of prisoners at the jail locked up during the working day and poor attendance at education and work was further fuelling the boredom, drug-taking, self-harm and violence. At Long Lartin, a continued lack of in-cell toilets for many prisoners led them to use buckets in their cells and throw bags of excrement out of the windows, many of which were not cleared up.

It is highly alarming that the police and prison service have, in effect ceded the airspace above two high-security prisons to organised crime gangs which are able to deliver contraband to jails holding extremely dangerous prisoners including some who have been designated as high-risk category A. The safety of staff, prisoners and ultimately that of the public, is seriously compromised by the failure to tackle what has become a threat to national security. The prison service, the police and other security services must urgently confront organised gang activity and reduce the supply of drugs and other illicit items which so clearly undermine every aspect of prison life.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Notes to editors

  1. The inspection of Manchester took place between 17 September and 3 October 2024. The Long Lartin inspection took place between 30 September and 10 October 2024.
  2. HMP Manchester is a category B training prison. It also holds a small number of category A prisoners, mainly those still going through the court process, and a close supervision centre.
  3. Long Lartin is a high-security prison for category A and B male prisoners. It holds mostly those with a determinate sentence of over 10 years, as well as life sentence prisoners and those with an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP).
  4. Copies of both reports, published on 14 January 2025, can be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/  
  5. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
  6. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.