Prisons ‘awash with drugs and phones’
Prisoners in jails across the region have been using smuggled mobile phones to broadcast drug use and partying.
Inmates at prisons, including HMP Oakwood near Wolverhampton, have used the phones to post footage of their illicit activity despite being banned from having smartphones.
It comes after prison officers walked out of their workplaces on Friday amid fears of growing levels of violence in jails.
Glyn Travis, the assistant general secretary of union The Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers (POA), said contraband is thrown over jail walls 'on a daily basis'.
It is even flown in by drone 'like a pizza delivery', while smugglers also conceal contraband on their bodies, he claimed.
He went on to say a 'very, very small' minority of banned items are brought in by prison staff.
Mr Travis added: "Prisons are currently awash with drugs and mobile phones."
Punishments
Videos have been anonymously published to Snapchat, which allows anyone to find public videos by location without revealing the user.
An inmate at HMP Oakwood in Featherstone posted videos showing life in the jail.
Meanwhile, footage posted earlier this month from inside HMP Birmingham showed inmates dancing to loud music in a cell and relaxing on the prison gantry.
The Ministry of Justice has branded the behaviour 'completely unacceptable' and said 'those who break prison rules will face tough punishments, including extra time behind bars'.
Staff at HMP Oakwood, Featherstone, Stafford, Brinsford and Birmingham began striking on Friday morning after being urged to leave their workplaces by the POA.
The union called for members in prisons across England and Wales to protest from 7am in response to a report about safety at HMP Bedford.
The report, released on Thursday from Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke, raised concerns about the potential for a ‘complete breakdown’ in order and discipline at HMP Bedford.
Inmates have effectively taken control at the violent, overcrowded and vermin-infested jail, his report warned.
Prison officers united, protesting outside jails due to the ‘unprecedented decline in health and safety standards’ over the past six years, Mr Gillan added.
