Open Prison Inmates Report Boredom and Frustration Amid High Drug Use

Prisoners at HMP Kirkham, an open facility in Lancashire, which records the highest drug usage nationwide, conveyed to inspectors their feelings of being “frustrated and bored.” During an unannounced inspection conducted in September, inspectors noted that they “frequently smelt cannabis as they walked around.” Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, stated that “illicit drugs were far too freely available,” with 25% of mandatory drug tests on prisoners yielding positive results. Mr. Taylor indicated that the Category D prison was “addressing” several of its persistent problems. The government affirmed its “zero tolerance” stance on drugs. At the time of the inspection, the prison housed 672 prisoners. Inspectors observed that an insufficient number of prisoners were offered opportunities for work, leading inmates to report feeling “bored” with limited activities to occupy their time, resulting in many turning to drug use. The report noted that prisoner outcomes at HMP Kirkham were deemed “reasonably good” concerning safety, but “not sufficiently good” regarding respect, purposeful activity, or readiness for release. Mr. Taylor commented, “The new, acting governor had only been in post for a few weeks when we inspected Kirkham, but she already had a good grasp of the many challenges faced by the jail and was beginning to address some of the longstanding issues.” A statement from the Ministry of Justice declared: “The new government inherited a prison system in crisis and reports like these demonstrate the need for robust action to get the situation back under control. We have zero tolerance towards drugs and will continue the hard work of ensuring prisons like HMP Kirkham become places where offenders can turn their backs on crime for good.” This development coincides with the government’s announcement of strategies to address prison overcrowding, committing to create 14,000 additional prison places across England and Wales by 2031. These plans encompass the construction of four new prisons, the addition of new blocks to existing facilities, and the establishment of temporary cells. Earlier in the current month, the deputy prime minister approved the construction of a proposed “super prison” in Chorley, Lancashire, a decision made three years after the initial application was rejected by the local council.