A report into the performance of HMP Humber in 2022 provides a fascinating look into how drugs and contraband is smuggled in
It is often baffling how drugs can be so rife in high security prisons but a report into the performance of HMP Humber during 2022 has offered a fascinating insight into how staff are trying to tackle the problem.
Ever inventive ways of bring in illegal drugs and other items, such as weapons, has often left governors playing catch up. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) has published its report into HMP Humber’s performance last year which looked closely at how the drug problem is being tackled.
The board is made up of unpaid volunteers who report on whether those held in prisons and immigration facilities are being treated fairly and humanely. The latest report on HMP Humber addressed a number of issues explored during its review from January to December 2022.
HMP Humber has not been identified as having a particular issue with drugs and contraband but, like most prisons, it remains a constant problem. Many prisoners come from a background of drug or alcohol misuse. One way of bringing in drugs is through false solicitor letters soaked in a solution of synthetic drugs such as spice.
The report says: “Sources for drugs coming into the prison include bogus Rule 39 (solicitor) mail and social visits and there has also been an increase in the misuse of prescription medication.
“The methods for dealing with these have continued throughout the year, with the photocopying of prisoners’ domestic mail and the use of high-tech scanners to detect traces of drugs on any correspondence, in particular Rule 39 correspondence, in addition to the use of the body scanner on new arrivals at the prison.
“Each firm of solicitors also now has the opportunity to have their own unique reference number (URN) which provides another layer of security. A new airport style increased gate security system was introduced during the first half of the year through which all staff and visitors must enter, and X-ray machines are being introduced to support this system in early 2023.”
Regular searches are also carried out to find any illicit drugs but any prisoner trying to brew or ferment their own homemade alcohol. They also try and thwart the trading of prescription drugs among prisoners.
The report says: “The Yorkshire area search team uses drug-finding dogs and is usually present in the reception area for the arrival of new prisoners and during social visits. The dogs are also taken on to the wings to search for drugs.
“Intelligence-led searches and cell clearances are undertaken regularly. Wing staff tend to find the highest amounts of fermenting liquid in the cells as daily cell checks are undertaken.
“Specific work on in-possession medication checks and greater supervision of medication hatches, which commenced during 2021 in a concerted attempt to discourage the trading and selling of prescription drugs, continued throughout the year.”
As well as the regular security checks and searches, a number of multi-agency operations have also been carried out.
The report says: “A significant number of operations were undertaken by the prison throughout the year, some of these in partnership with other organisations.
“Specific operations were undertaken to detect two organised crime activities during the year, one involving a prisoner trafficking drugs where two members of the public were also arrested for posting parcels containing drugs into the prison, and one which identified a Rule 39 drug trafficking group from West Yorkshire who were targeting the prison.”
Mandatory drug testing (MDT) was also carried out in the prison during 2022. Out of 444 tests taken during the year, approximately 18 per cent were returned as positive tests. Of the total tests undertaken during the year, approximately 88 per cent were random tests and 12per cent were suspicion tests.
The main drugs found in the tests included illicit prescription medications in addition to other drugs, which were mainly psychoactive substances, subutex (heroin substitute), cannabis and ketamine.
The report, as a whole was largely positive. HMP Humber is a large category C resettlement between South Cave and Everthorpe holding up to 1,082 adult males.
