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An estimated 50% of prisoners using illicit substances at HMP Swaleside

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HMP Swaleside

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Swaleside has raised concerns about high levels of violence and the widespread availability of illicit substances in its 2024-25 annual report (published 14 October 2025). The Board reports that a significant proportion of prison officers have less than one year’s experience, which has adversely affected staff-prisoner relationships and undermined the stability of the prison regime.

The IMB notes that:

  • Based on the number of positive random drug tests, it is estimated that 50% of the prison population are using drugs. Despite drone sightings being down, levels of illicit items are still high. In the Board’s view, this suggests that the increasingly sophisticated use of drones is making detection more difficult and the prison estate is in dire need of more sophisticated counter measures.
  • Close to 50% of uniformed officers, mainly overseas applicants, have less than a year’s experience – this huge influx of new officers has resulted in a breakdown in relationships between staff and prisoners. The quality of key working sessions, which are pivotal to the positive rehabilitation of prisoners, has also suffered.
  • A prisoner survey conducted by the IMB highlighted widespread fear of violence and bullying. Prisoners also reported a lack of professionalism among staff and raised concerns about the level of training staff received.
  • Transfers to secure mental-health units were too slow. In one case, a prisoner waited 721 days before a suitable placement was found.

IMB Swaleside Chair, James Morris, said:

“While successful recruitment is welcome, staff inexperience is an inevitable outcome. The sheer numbers involved in the recruitment drive has severely limited the prison’s capacity to operate safely, securely and humanely.

The Board has increasing concerns about how staffing levels are likely to be affected by the high number of overseas staff whose right to work will be impacted by changes to the UK immigration rules announced in July 2025.

The high prevalence of violence at HMP Swaleside is likely driven by drug-related debt, with drug use estimated to affect half of the prison population. More needs to be done to prevent the ingress of illicit items and stop the atmosphere of fear among prisoners.”