‘Serious concerns’ over drugs in HMP Five Well

A report on a private ‘super prison’ says drugs ‘appear to be routinely available’.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said Five Wells Prison, in Northamptonshire, is struggling to prevent illegal items being brought or thrown onto the premises.

The council also said incidents requiring staff to use force are poorly managed.

G4S, which runs the prison, said it was “very proud of the development of our staff and the work they have done to build a consistent regime”.

HMP Five Wells was opened just outside Wellingborough in February 2022 and had 1,715 prisoners in March 2024.

The prisoners are known as ‘residents’, the cells are called ‘rooms’ and there are no bars on the windows.

The IMB, a statutory body made up of community members, has access to the prison and can talk to prisoners to ensure they are being treated properly.

In its latest report, covering the year to March 2024, the board said it remained “gravely concerned about the number and extent of illegal items found in the prison.

“It appears that medications are routinely available (and) random drug testing has consistently resulted in a positive rate of at least 25%,” the report said.

It added that efforts to prevent illegal items from entering the prison, including by being thrown over the wall, “appear to have had modest or temporary success”.

The IMB said incidents involving the use of force had gradually increased as the prison population increased.

Reviews of incidents had “repeatedly revealed instances of weak situation management”, including the failure to turn on body-worn cameras.

The number of cases of self-harm had increased over the year to more than 100 per month.

The IMB found prison accommodation to be “good”, with most prisoners having single cells with showers.

The board also said inmates were well cared for when they arrived, and there was “consistent and effective” use of the segregation unit.

G4S said: “We are very proud of the development of our staff and the work they have done to build a consistent regime.

“We have implemented robust governance arrangements around the use of force, including a committee to investigate every incident and share lessons learned with staff.

“Fighting the entry and use of drugs remains a challenge. We have built strong relationships with local police and work closely with them to tackle anyone who wishes to break the law.”