An inspection of HMP Hindley has revealed a ‘near tsunami of illegal drugs’, violence and self-harm among inmates.

An unannounced inspection of the Greater Manchester prison, which houses 600 prisoners, was carried out late last year. Testing revealed more than half of inmates used illegal drugs, with the highest drug-testing rate in any prison in England and Wales. The report further details serious staffing shortages and inexperience as a contributing factor to high levels of violence and self-harm.

The prison was also criticised for its cramped conditions, with a fifth of prisoners living in overcrowded accommodation. The infrastructure was deemed in need of priority investment from HM Prison and Probation Service to deliver improvements.

Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, described the ‘indolence, boredom and frustration’ felt by inmates over the prison’s poor regime. Activity was limited, with almost a third of prisoners spending less than three hours a day out of their cell. Despite Hindley being designated in part as a training prison, the report found that far too little purposeful work, education or training was taking place at the time of the inspection.

Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, Andrea Coomber KC, expressed concern over the recent report, stating that drugs are a ‘destructive force’ in prisons. She emphasised the need for adequate staffing at HMP Hindley to ensure prisoners are able to engage in exercise, education, and training, in order to reduce the reliance on drugs as a way to alleviate boredom or depression.