Prison warned over drug death risk

An ombudsman has issued a warning that more inmates will die unless urgent measures are taken to address drug use and staff shortages at HMP Mount in Hertfordshire. The report follows the overdose death of Max Marchant, who was moved to a wing “overrun” with psychoactive substances shortly before his death. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has expressed deep concern, warning “more prisoners will die there” if the situation is not addressed. Despite claims from the Ministry of Justice that improvements have been made since 2022, the report indicates that drugs remain “especially prevalent” due to ongoing staff shortages that “perpetually undermine” efforts to combat the issue. The report calls for the Director General for Prisons to consider how to implement an effective drug strategy under the challenging circumstances.