An inspection of a prison where a third of inmates are under 25 has found almost 80% of prisoners are using drugs while behind bars.

The report into HMP/YOI Hindley, near Wigan, found in April 2024 that 77% of random drug tests came back positive, the highest rate of illicit substance-taking in any prison in England and Wales.

The prisons watchdog said in a report released this week that ‘the availability and use of illicit drugs posed a critical threat to the security of the prison’. The inspection report blamed decrepit 1960s infrastructure and an increase in the use of drones for the availability of drugs. They also remarked that the prevalence of drugs in the prison was contributing to ‘prisoner debt, bullying and fear’.

The key findings of the inspection noted: ‘…the ingress of illicit items remained a significant concern. Mandatory drug test data indicated that the positive test rate was higher than at our inspection and remained the highest of all prisons in England and Wales. While some positive action had been taken to address the use of illicit drugs, much of this was very recent and had yet to make any discernible impact.’

A previous inspection of the prison, as reported in Justice Gap, revealed a ‘near tsunami of illegal drugs’.

The report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons also noted high levels of violence and self harm. In the 12 months before the report there were 494 incidents of self-harm, placing Hindley in the top three among comparable prisons on the estate.