Prison visiting wing with children’s play area being used by inmates to smuggle in drugs
A PRISON visiting wing with children’s play areas is being exploited by inmates to get drugs in, a report has found.
Visitors have been caught handing over hard drugs to lags in the unit, which features free cuddly toys for kids and has comfy sofas.
The Independent Monitoring Board said 14 attempts were intercepted at Category C High Down prison in Surrey — compared with two in 2021.
It said: “The availability of illicit items, including drugs, alcohol, mobile phones and to a lesser extent, improvised weapons, continues to be a major concern.”
High Down has already banned prisoners from having underwear sent to them, after some were soaked in the drug spice.
The report added: “Instances of prisoners being under the influence of new psychoactive substances/cannabis or hooch are recorded almost daily and prisoners tell us that illicit substances are relatively easy to get hold of.”
Meanwhile, prison inmates at HMP Grendon in Bucks have had lessons in public speaking, a report reveals.
Experts from Toastmasters ran two four-hour workshops to train cons how to deliver a speech.
There were also music sessions where the men “use a studio to write and record music and generally develop their skills”
And two colonies of bees were bought with plans for lags to be taught to care for hives.