Main navigation

Inside out: how to get drugs out of prisons

On 9 June 2008, the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) published a report (Inside out: how to get drugs out of prisons) examining drug use in prisons.

The report contends that drugs are widespread in British prisons, undermining any attempt to clean up prisoners from pre-existing addictions, greatly increasing the chances of recidivism and corrupting staff.

Although the government has committed significant resources to tackling the problem, the report claims that drug dealers are organised, highly motivated and have built effective alliances for mutual benefit and profit. It suggests that a new pre-emptive intelligence-led approach is needed which should:

  • start from the premise that all illicit drugs should be eliminated from prisons;
  • allow prisons to share information on the supply of drugs throughout the system;
  • enable prisons to work with the rest of the law enforcement community to develop intelligence systems that mirror those of their law enforcement counterparts.

    • Inside out: how to get drugs out of prisons