A damning investigation into two major Merseyside prisons has exposed a severe crisis fuelled by rampant drug use, organised crime, and escalating violence. The findings from HM Inspectorate of Prisons, published in 2025, paint a grim picture of conditions at both the publicly-run HMP Liverpool and the privately-operated HMP Altcourse.
HMP Liverpool: A Facility Under Siege
Inspectors visiting HMP Liverpool found a prison where inmates were often "lying on their beds watching daytime TV and taking drugs to pass the time". The scale of substance abuse was staggering, with the jail recording the highest positive drug test rate of any similar prison in the country. Nearly half of all tests conducted, almost 50%, yielded positive results.
The report identified that the facility was being "continuously targeted" by organised crime groups, who used drones to deliver contraband over the walls. This illicit drug network was described as posing "an ongoing threat to the safety and stability of the prison". Violence was a major concern, with one prison officer suffering a head injury after being assaulted with a tap earlier in the year.
Other critical issues highlighted included:
- High levels of self-harm among prisoners.
- Dilapidated and failing infrastructure.
- Concerning rates of staff sickness.
On a positive note, the inspection found that staff retention at HMP Liverpool was considerably better than at many other jails.
HMP Altcourse: Debt and Gang Violence
The situation at the privately-run HMP Altcourse was similarly dire. Inspectors found a significant proportion of inmates using drugs, with the prison also recording one of the highest drug rates among comparable facilities. Drugs were deemed a "major threat" to safety and security.
Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults had increased steadily over the previous two years, a trend largely driven by debt collection within the prison walls. The Liverpool Echo reported that almost three-quarters of prisoners felt debt was the biggest driver of violence. The prison also faced a rising rate of self-harm incidents.
Inspectors did note that relationships between staff and prisoners were a strength at HMP Altcourse, with inmates commenting on the support they felt. This contributed to much lower rates of assaults on staff compared to similar jails.
Government Response and Security Investment
In response to the widespread problems, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson announced significant investment. The ministry is investing £40m in new security measures in 2025 alone to clamp down on the contraband that fuels violence behind bars.
Of this total, £10m is earmarked specifically for anti-drone measures, including the installation of exterior netting and reinforced windows to prevent aerial deliveries of drugs and phones. This investment underscores the scale of the challenge posed by technologically-adept criminal groups targeting prison security.
The reports on HMP Liverpool and HMP Altcourse add to the well-documented national crisis in UK prisons, which has long been plagued by issues of overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure, and inadequate rehabilitation services.
