Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) what work his Department is doing to combat substance misuse by inmates in the prison estate and (b) how his Department is supporting staff to tackle the problem.

We recognise that illicit drug use in prison is too high, and we are committed to tackling this to improve safety, support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending. We are investing an extra £35 million this year to improve counter drone measures at the most at-risk prisons. This builds on over £40 million already invested in physical security across 34 prison sites since July 2024.

HMPPS work closely with health partners to identify prisoners with a drug problem and support them into treatment. To create the environment and incentives for prisons to make the right choices, the Government has funded Incentivised Substance Free Living Units in 88 prisons, which provides a dedicated, supportive environment for any prisoner who wants to live drug-free in prison, using regular drug testing alongside incentives. We have committed to expanding these to a further 12 prisons by the end of 2027/28.

To bring together rehabilitative and security focused activity in prison, the Government has funded 54 Heads of Drug and Alcohol Strategy to ensure local drug strategies are effectively implemented, and to coordinate a whole system approach to tackling drugs. We have also recruited 17 Group Drug and Alcohol Leads, who support work on drugs and alcohol across their prison groups, and establish links with community providers and local authority partnerships.

Dedicated drug and alcohol staff and non-specialist staff in prisons have a range of support and development including access to a dedicated e-learning and practice hub, access to communities of practice and ongoing Continuing Professional Development including targeted development days for specific roles. In addition, drug and alcohol awareness forms part of the foundation training for new operational staff. Wherever possible, learning and development is offered in partnership with health and drug treatment providers and is informed by evidence, assessments of need and lived experience of those in recovery.