- His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor has warned that Britain's overcrowded jails are failing to rehabilitate inmates, with many locked in cells for up to 22 hours a day taking drugs and watching television while the average cost of housing a criminal reaches £60,000 a year.
- Organised crime gangs are making vast profits by using sophisticated drones to deliver up to 10kg of drugs per drop into prison yards, posing serious security risks that could lead to weapon smuggling or escape attempts.
- Taylor expressed concern that government emergency measures, such as the early release scheme and plans to build 14,000 new prison places, fail to address underlying staffing shortages and offer no long-term solutions for rehabilitation, housing, or drug treatment.
- The Chief Inspector commended Andy Burnham for promising to end indefinite Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences, describing the remaining IPP tariffs as a great injustice that leaves hopeless prisoners dangling in custody.
- In response to the criticism, the Ministry of Justice highlighted its £75 million security investment, counter-drone measures, and an ongoing independent review led by Amber Rudd aimed at making prisons safer and reducing reoffending rates.
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