Garth: So many drones the prison is an ‘airport’ 

The Howard League for Penal Reform has responded to HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ report on Garth prison, published today (Tuesday 5 November).

Inspectors visited the prison, in Lancashire, in July and August 2024 and found major security issues, drug use and violence.

Inspectors surveying the prison found that 63% of people held in Garth said drugs were easy to acquire, and that many were burning holes in their windows to allow the entry of drones carrying contraband. One prisoner said there were so many drones entering the prison it was an ‘airport’.

Violence in the prison had seen a 45% increase, with many people needing protection due to drug-related debt.

Inspectors also found high levels of staff sickness, insufficient training and an unwillingness to challenge prisoner rule-breaking. Parts of the prison were dilapidated and new arrivals told inspectors they were forced to pay other prisoners to get missing furniture for their cells.

 Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “It’s sadly commonplace to see prisons receive bad inspection reports at the moment but it is particularly concerning to see a prison like Garth, part of the long-term and high-security estate, suffering from widespread issues around drugs and violence.

“The situation in Garth is indicative of problems across the prison system and speaks to why a major overhaul is desperately needed. We simply should not tolerate prisons that cannot offer a full regime that takes people out of their cells and into purposeful activity.”

Notes to editors

1. The Howard League for Penal Reform is the oldest penal reform charity in the world. It is a national charity working for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
2. The inspection report for Garth prison will be available on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/our-reports/

Contact

Noor Khan
Press and Public Affairs Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7241 7873
Email: noor.khan@howardleague.org