Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 173
173
Deferred
Drug-related medical emergencies strain prison staff and reduce purposeful activity, fueling drug demand.
Conclusion
Every drug-related medical emergency in prison, especially when fatal, is a needless tragedy. The significant number of ’code blues’ in some prisons adds to the significant strain already being experienced by staff. This leads to regime restrictions and increased time spent in cells. This, in turn, reduces access to purposeful activity and rehabilitation programmes, creating a self-perpetuating cycle where boredom and lack of purpose contribute to the demand for drugs. (Conclusion, Paragraph 60)
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on investments in robust security infrastructure for 2025/26, including CCTV upgrades, perimeter systems, and new Facilities Management contracts. They are also considering enhancing CCTV with AI and analytics, but this does not address the committee's conclusion about medical emergencies impacting purposeful activity and drug demand.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We recognise the importance of maintaining robust security infrastructure across the prison estate and so in the 2025/26 planned capital maintenance programme, approximately £40 million has been invested in security- related projects, including approximately £15 million in the Long-Term High Security Estate (LTHSE). These include CCTV and control room upgrades, perimeter intrusion detection systems, perimeter fencing, netting, and external window grilles. Governors can bid for planned capital projects, which are considered for inclusion in the annual programme of works. However, demand for maintenance far exceeds available funding. Therefore, HMPPS prioritises their planned capital projects based on risk to life, security, capacity and decency. For reactive repairs, current prison Facilities Management contracts require suppliers to respond promptly to critical security asset failures, such as CCTV, in most cases within 24 hours. Where parts are unavailable, a reasonable timeframe is agreed with the supplier based on sourcing requirements. The Government is committed to ensuring professional Facility Management services across the prison estate and has initiated a programme of work to put in place new contracts for the provision of maintenance services for prisons. The intention of the new contracts is to provide a level of investment that addresses the service improvements required to improve and transform delivery. In addition, the MoJ are considering enhancing CCTV by modernising our current technology and strengthening our capability beyond traditional surveillance, integrating advanced AI and analytics. Our focus is on leveraging behavioural detection and predictive analytics to provide proactive security insights rather than reactive monitoring.