Early release prisoners say jail rife with drugs

Karl Wilson said violence was a regular occurrence inside the Manchester jail

Offenders released early to ease overcrowding in prisons have spoken of dire conditions in a jail they described as "disgusting" and riddled with drugs and violence.

About 250 prisoners have been released from prisons across the north-west of England, including a number from HMP Manchester, commonly referred to by its former name Strangeways.

Karl Wilson, who was released after being jailed for burglary, said the 1860s building was an unsafe "dive" filled with "more drugs than out here".

In response, the Ministry of Justice said Shabana Mahmood, the lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice, described the state of prisons as a "dire situation".

Councillors in Manchester have long complained Strangeways is outdated

Wilson, who was jailed for two years and six months, left the prison holding a travel warrant he will use to get to Wolverhampton to stay with a friend.

The Birmingham-native told BBC Radio Manchester the jail was "one of the worst I've ever been too", adding he had been "in and out of jail since 15".

"You've got rats in Strangeways running around on the wing casually that are bigger than your hand.

"A good 75% of prisoners are involved in drugs, it's more rife in this jail than anywhere I've ever seen."

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It was easy to buy drugs and get access to mobile phones inside the facility he said, adding each night he would see drones dropping items over the walls.

Wilson said violence was also a regular occurrence at the prison, adding he did not feel safe there compared to the other jails he was held in.

Those who get into debts for drugs were "getting stabbed, there's no question about it you're getting stabbed or slashed, something's happening to you", he added.

"There's no hiding behind your door like in other jails."

Ryan Surplice said conditions in Strangeways were "disgusting"

Ryan Surplice, from Birmingham, was also released earlier after he was jailed for three years for burglary.

"I am happy to be out," he told reporters.

"The wings in there are condemned, it is disgusting in that jail, there is water running black out of the taps, rats running around the wings.

"People are getting stabbed in the wings, no-one cares."

He said he found about his early release about a month ago and was "buzzing when I heard, I was over the moon".

"I don't feel like I am going to use drugs anymore, I want to go find something nice to eat."

An annual report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales for the year 2023 to 2024 found a "surge in illicit drug use, self-harm and violence" in many prisons.

Ms Mahmood said the report "lays bare the stark reality in our prisons" and the early release of prisoners was a "temporary measure" taken to give the government time to build new prisons.