G4S Prison, Oakwood, drugs easier to get than soap.
HMP Oakwood, a category C jail, came under fire in July when it was one of two private prisons to receive the Ministry of Justice’s lowest rating. At the time, the Howard League for Penal Reform described it as a “damning indictment” of the role of private firms in justice.
The UK’s largest privately-run prison is failing to tackle drugs, which inmates say are now easier to obtain than soap, a report reveals.
Chief Inspector of Prisons, Nick Hardwick, said the findings on HMP Oakwood, near Wolverhampton, were “unquestionably concerning”.
One in seven prisoners said they had developed a drug problem while at the prison, the report found.
Operator G4S said it had already taken steps to tackle the problems.