Concerns continue over drug use at 'smart prison'

HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough is one of the UK's largest prisons and is run by private firm G4S

Drugs continue to be "routinely available" at a privately-run prison for men, a report has found.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said it "continues to be concerned" about the number and range of illicit items found at Five Wells prison, in Northamptonshire.

The board also said self-harm incidents had risen by 59% in the year to 31 March, and use-of-force incidents continued to be "poorly managed, putting staff and prisoners at risk".

G4S, which runs the jail, in Wellingborough, said there had been "significant reductions" in problem areas highlighted by the report since March.

HMP Five Wells opened in Wellingborough in February 2022 with the aim to provide rehabilitation and resettlement for people with up to two years left on their sentence.

Earlier this year, a BBC investigation found the prison's remit had changed and it was holding one of the highest numbers of sex offenders in Europe.

The IMB is a group of independent people who monitor conditions for inmates.

Its recent report looked at Five Wells between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 and highlighted that the "prisoner mix has changed significantly" with an increase in the number of prisoners convicted of sexual offences (PCoSOs).

The board said sex offenders made up the "vast majority of new arrivals" and represented more than 60% of the jail's population.

'Little impact'

As was the case in last year's IMB report, the board found that drugs and a high rate of positive random drug tests remained a problem, despite measures being taken to try to address the issue.

It said efforts to reduce demand with the establishment of a drug rehabilitation unit "had little impact".

The IMB also noted that searching staff and others working in the prison "remains sporadic".

The IMB felt the standard of accommodation "remains good overall" and the health needs of prisoners "seem to be generally met".

It added the education department had "worked hard to raise standards" and noted that men were attending work or education on a full-time basis.

A spokesperson for G4S, which runs the prison, said: "We are pleased the IMB recognises the very positive progress made in key areas, including increased staff support and a full regime of work and education.

"Since the end of the IMB's reporting period in March 2025, we have continued to achieve significant reductions in violence, use of force, self-harm incidents and the rates of positive drug tests."