Dead pigeons used to deliver drugs to Oakwood inmates

The problem of drugs in prisons has been in the news a lot recently. The latest news helps to emphasise how resourceful inmates and their drug suppliers from the outside are, and why drugs continue to be a problem.

According to a serving prisoner at HMP Oakwood in Wolverhampton, dead pigeons have been used to smuggle in drugs.

HMP Oakwood is a Category C prison and is currently the largest prison in the UK, with 1,600 inmates. It is managed by G4S.

It is reported that one in eight prisoners at HMP Oakwood develop a drug problem during their incarceration. The prison also has a high rate of self-harm and violence.

The inmate who has made the allegations is serving eight months for drug offences. He contacted the Sunday Mercury via a relative, as he does not wish to be identified. In a statement his relative has explained how it is easier to obtain drugs than find soap in the prison.

The inmate’s spokesperson said: “The amount of drugs coming in is a joke – they’re coming over the fence every day because it’s next to a main road. They’re even being stashed inside pigeon carcasses. No one inspects a dead bird – they just put it straight into the bin.” The spokesperson added: “Unless they change things, there will be riots and uproar. If you leave people to flip, it’s bad news.”

In recent years prison budgets have been slashed and this is now having a serious impact on the wellbeing of prisoners. It seems that if prison drug abuse is going to be tackled, more investment is needed.