Drugs and violence filling the void as prisons fail to offer positive regimes 

The Howard League for Penal Reform has responded to the Annual Report of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales 2024-25, published today (8 July 2025).

The Chief Inspector highlighted the supply and use of illicit drugs as undermining every aspect of prison life, with levels of violence rising in step with increasing drug use. The report emphasised that overcrowding and a lack of activity heightened the demand for drugs among people in prison, who spent much of their days in cramped, shared cells in abject conditions.     

Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “Tens of thousands of people crammed in cells in filthy conditions, with no education or training but easy access to drugs, amid rising violence and self-harm. This report is a checklist for all the reasons the government must prioritise reducing prison numbers, urgently.  

“Drugs, and the violence associated with them, in part fill the void that is created by overstretched and under-resourced prisons failing to offer positive regimes that get people out of their cells and involved in activities.

“Sentencing reform is essential, and sensible steps to reduce the prison population would save lives, protect staff, and help more people to move on from crime.” 

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 annual report will be available on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/our-reports/
3. For detailed analysis of how sentencing policy failures have contributed to the prison capacity crisis, read the explainer article ‘What is sentence inflation?’ on the Howard League website: https://howardleague.org/what-is-sentence-inflation/
4. For more information about the prison overcrowding crisis, read the explainer article ‘Why are prisons overcrowded?’ on the Howard League website: https://howardleague.org/why-are-prisons-overcrowded/
5. For more information about the IPP scandal, read the explainer article ‘What are IPP sentences?’ on the Howard League website: https://howardleague.org/what-are-ipp-sentences/  

Contact 

Noor Khan
Press and Public Affairs Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7241 7873
Email: [email protected]