Weapon manufacturing right in cells, drug deliveries by drones, and terror against staff and other inmates — this was allowed to happen in a prison for lifers in Kent county.
Swaleside Prison. Photo: John Stillwell — PA Images / PA Images via Getty Images
UK Chief Prison Inspector Charlie Taylor decided to implement a special supervision regime at HMP Swaleside prison in Kent county. As The Telegraph writes, this forced measure was a response to the catastrophic security situation at the institution. According to the official's assessment, the prison has become dangerous, dirty, and overrun with drugs, and a total sense of despair reigns among the inmates.
The level of violence has reached a critical point: six new inmates were beaten or stabbed on their very first night in a cell.
Taylor called this prison's indicators the worst he had seen in five years of his work as chief inspector. This prompted Justice Secretary David Lammy to urgently develop an emergency action plan.
Prison for serious criminals
Swaleside is a male prison designated for serious criminals. More than half of the local prisoners are sentenced to life imprisonment — this is the main center where they serve the first stage of their sentence. The contingent here is very diverse: 30 to 40% are representatives of ethnic minorities and foreign nationals.
Formally, rehabilitation programs exist here: educational courses from Canterbury College, engineering and technical work, commercial production workshops, as well as gardening and agricultural activities.
Security problems have plagued the institution for years. As early as December 2016, a riot broke out here, when inmates completely took over one wing of the building for some time.
Photo: Gareth Fuller — PA Images / PA Images via Getty Images
Dictate of religious gangs
However, the situation has not improved over the years. Local observers state in their report that the real power within the walls belongs to gangs formed primarily along religious lines (almost a third of the inmates here are Muslims). Many other prisoners admit that they feel absolutely helpless and unprotected against the aggression of these groups.
The situation is complicated by a constant war between rival clans for control over territory and drug flows. In addition to physical violence, racism and discrimination flourish in the prison, with instances of aggression against Jewish inmates noted. The level of fear is so high that many inmates are afraid to visit the gym or go to the doctor, fearing attack.
The technical equipment of the criminals is also impressive. Observers report the establishment of bladed weapon manufacturing directly within the prison territory, which they call an ominous sign.
Simultaneously, the airspace above the prison is practically open to criminals: drones regularly drop contraband, including knives and drugs (especially synthetic mixtures, such as «spice»). A third of the surveyed inmates stated that they had been attacked, and three-quarters admitted that they do not feel safe.
Staffing collapse
The crisis is exacerbated by a severe shortage of experienced staff. In three months, over a hundred attacks on prison staff were recorded. Most conflicts began after wardens tried to give orders to inmates. In response, in half the cases, staff members were spat at or punched.
Observers consider the critical inexperience of staff to be the root of the problem. Almost half of the staff have been working in the system for less than a year. Observers call the expectation that newcomers can cope with the tough inmate population without the support of experienced colleagues completely unrealistic.
Living conditions are also described as appalling: graffiti everywhere, traces of fires, broken furniture, and mold in shower stalls. Attempts by the administration to restore order often boil down to harsh restrictions that inspectors called inhumane: under the new regime, almost half of the inmates can leave their cells for only 30 minutes a day.
The government acknowledges the problem. The Prisons Minister called the report deeply alarming and expressed disappointment that the institution does not meet standards. The official noted that the authorities inherited a broken prison system, with too many prisons like Swaleside that foster criminality instead of rehabilitation.
As a way out, the authorities promise to build 14 thousand new places for inmates and implement a large-scale reform of the sentencing system to reduce recidivism and ensure public safety.
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