Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
6th Report - Tackling the drugs crisis in our prisons
Justice Committee
HC 557
Published 31 October 2025
Government response
3rd Special Report – Tackling the drugs crisis in our prisons: Government Response · published 9 Jan 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
160
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Widespread illicit substance availability normalises drug use and addiction within prisons.
Conclusion
The widespread and increasing availability of illicit substances has fostered a culture of acceptance that normalises drug use in prisons. This makes the presence of drugs inescapable for many prisoners. The situation is made worse by two key factors: the …
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Government Response Summary
The government recognises the value of drug testing and commits to reviewing its drug testing regime to better understand drug use and support treatment and recovery pathways. It will also continue to explore the feasibility of emerging detection technologies for long-term use.
Ministry of Justice
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163
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Speed up plans to introduce wastewater-based drug surveillance across the entire prison estate.
Conclusion
The MoJ and HMPPS must speed up plans to introduce wastewater- based surveillance to identify new substances across the entire prison estate. If successful, this wastewater surveillance should be deployed in all prisons to monitor drug usage trends within two …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it continuously reviews drug testing panels and prioritises drug detection as a key R&D priority, focusing on identifying future solutions for frontline staff. However, it does not commit to speeding up plans for wastewater-based surveillance or deploying it across all prisons within two years as recommended.
Ministry of Justice
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