Winchester prison "rife" with drugs and violence - watchdog
Prison inspectors want it to be put into emergency measures
Last updated 24th Oct 2024
A watchdog has called for Winchester prison to be put into emergency measures amid concerns over "very high levels of violence".
Prison inspectors wrote to the Justice Secretary to issue an urgent notification for improvement at the category B jail.
An inspection found drug use was "rife", but the prison's approach to testing was "weak", and a third of CCTV cameras were broken which "compromised security".
Around 40% of the roughly 690 men held there tested positive for drug use in August, and 47% reported it was easy to get hold of illicit substances, inspectors said.
The prison was so "dilapidated" one inmate had "been able to remove his own cell door", the watchdog's inspection carried out earlier this month found.
Martin Lomas, deputy chief inspector of prisons, said: "Winchester was in a very poor state and had been for many years.
"At this most recent inspection we found that standards had deteriorated to the point that we had no choice but to issue an urgent notification for improvement."