An unprecedented surge in disorder caused by psychoactive drugs has turned Britain’s jails into “unacceptably violent and dangerous places”, the Government’s chief inspector of prisons warned today.
Peter Clarke said the increasing use of drugs such as “Spice” or “Mamba” was having “unpredictable and extreme” effects and had contributed to a 31 per cent rise in serious assaults on both prisoners and staff inside jails over the past year.
He said the drugs also led to suicides, serious illnesses and “life-changing self-harm”, and that staff had told him about the “terrifying effects” they had on inmates.
Mr Clarke, who previously ran Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, also warned that there was “no clear strategy” for tackling the problem, despite the efforts of some prisons to stop the illicit flow of psychoactive substances into jails.
Announcing his findings today in his annual report to Parliament, he said that the “grim situation” within prisons had become even worse in some aspects and that the drug problem was on a scale not seen previously.
He added: “There is a simple and unpalatable truth about far too many of our prisons.
They have become unacceptably violent and dangerous places.
A large part of this violence is linked to the harm caused by new psychoactive substances.”
He said their use can be linked to attacks and suicides “and tragically the death toll will inevitably rise”.
Mr Clarke also warned of overcrowding and inadequate staffing.
His report highlights the challenge facing new Justice Secretary Liz Truss.
