Violent prison deteriorates further, report says

HMP Guys Marsh has high levels of violence and self-harm, inspectors found

A violent prison with a "poor culture" has deteriorated since inspectors raised concerns three years ago, a report has said.

Illegal drugs have become more widely available at HMP Guys Marsh near Shaftesbury, Dorset, HM Inspectorate of Prisons found.

The men's jail has rising levels of violence, too much use of force by staff and the highest self-harm rate in its prison category, inspectors said.

The Ministry of Justice said the government had inherited a "prison system in crisis" and it was aware of the jail's problems.

Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said: "We have had concerns about this prison for some time, and... it was particularly concerning at this inspection to find that the prison had deteriorated further.

"Data on rates of violence showed the situation worsening, with the prison more violent than most similar establishments.

"The use of force was among the highest for comparable prisons."

Mr Taylor said staff-prisoner relationships were "at the heart of the prison's problems", with some inmates feeling "harassed" and many staff remaining absent from work.

Bottles that could be used for illegally-brewed alcohol were found stacked outside a cell window

Inspectors, who visited the jail in January 2025, said ratings for safety and respect had deteriorated since their previous assessment in 2022.

The latest report said: "Prisoners endured power outages, water entry into cells, and black mould on ceilings and walls.

"Despite central funding for several projects, the buildings at Guys Marsh were dilapidated, the heating and water systems were frequently broken and many areas of the prison were ill-equipped and neglected."

Building work to expand the jail had stalled after a contractor went into receivership, they reported.

More prisoners than before said drugs and illegally-brewed alcohol were easy to get hold of, the inspectors said.

Bottles that could be used for alcohol were seen stacked outside a cell window, the report added.

HMP Guys Marsh is a category C training and resettlement prison, which held 487 men in January.

Despite its role as a training prison, about three in 10 prisoners were locked in their cells during the working day, inspectors said.

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said: "This government inherited a prison system in crisis – overcrowded, with drugs and violence rife – and we fully acknowledge the challenges at HMP Guys Marsh.

"Staff at the prison have already taken action against these recommendations by re-introducing prisoner forums to constructively raise concerns, increasing time out of cell and improving the educational offer, including through more places on English and Maths classes."