Oliver Mulangala
8 Dec 2025 · Coroner Jonathan Stevens · Surrey
This report repeats 5 earlier warnings. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. illicit drug availability
“The availability and use of illicit drugs posed a threat to the stability of the prison, contributing to debt, bullying and fear. The positive drug testing rate at HMP High Down was among the highest in adult male prisons”
2. illicit substance availability
“The availability of illicit substances continued to be a serious concern that undermined safety and stability. The rate of positive drug tests remained as high as at our full inspection in 2023”
3. coerced drug use
“It's probably easier to get [REDACTED] or a mobile phone in here than it is to get sugar. I think some prisoners may get coerced and groomed into taking it and running up debts”
4. daily drug exposure
“[REDACTED] is a daily occurrence, it's too much to handle...some batches are bad and they can then be violent”
5. NPS exposure
“nearly every day when someone is found under the influence of NPS (New psychoactive substances)”
6. mobile phone access
“If they have access to a phone it makes it easier for them to obtain drugs”
7. smartphone-enabled contraband
“prisoners were able to get possession of smart phones (even though they are not allowed to have them), and that having access to smart phones enabled prisoners to arrange for contraband to be delivered into prison, threaten and coerce, communicate across different prisons, and take and share video footage within the prison”
8. detection technology
“[REDACTED] defence technology exists to detect, track [REDACTED] and identify”
9. drug-related mortality
“The Office of National Statistics recorded, however, that between 2008 and 2019 there were 145 drug-related deaths in UK prisons, which equates to an average of 13.2 pa over that 11-year period”
10. drug-related mortality
“The 6th Report of the House of Commons Justice Committee states that between December 2022 and December 2024 there were 136 drug-related deaths in UK prisons, which equates to 68 death per year in that 2-year period, in other words about one every 5 days”
11. NPS availability
“(1) New psychoactive substances, especially [REDACTED] , are easily available in HM Prison High Down, as in many other prisons in England & Wales”
12. mobile phone availability
“(2) Mobile phones are easily available in HM Prison High Down, as in many other prisons in England & Wales”
Linked reports
Identical hazardConfidence 0.92 · high
Earlier report
“That the use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) remains rife within the prison, and presentations such as Mr [name redacted] are not diminishing, and that the Substance Misuse Team requires further staff to be effective in future.”
This report
“Prison Officer B ([REDACTED]) told the court: "[REDACTED] is a daily occurrence, it's too much to handle...some batches are bad and they can then be violent"”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.90 · high
Earlier report
“The new Governing Governor confirmed that further steps are necessary to improve the management of illicit substance misuse. He confirmed the prison requires CCTV on all wings and airport style scanners - one in reception for prisoners and one in the visitor area.”
This report
“The availability of illicit substances continued to be a serious concern that undermined safety and stability. The rate of positive drug tests remained as high as at our full inspection in 2023”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.90 · high
Earlier report
“Many problems within the prison related to substances misuse are contributed to by the use of contraband mobile phones. The inquest heard evidence that blocking the use of mobile phones in prison would be very useful in mitigating this risk”
This report
“Mobile phones are easily available in HM Prison High Down, as in many other prisons in England & Wales a. The access to mobile phones facilitates prisoners' conduct and finance of drug dealing, including the arranging for the delivery of drugs by drones to precise locations at specified times”
Identical hazardConfidence 0.90 · high
Earlier report
“The report of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman highlighted that there were concerns regarding the accessibility of drugs within HMP Berwyn and notwithstanding that certain measures had been taken”
This report
“(1) New psychoactive substances, especially [REDACTED] , are easily available in HM Prison High Down, as in many other prisons in England & Wales”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.85 · high
Earlier report
“The Head of Safety advised that drugs are broughts into HMP The Mount by a number of ways:”
This report
“The availability and use of illicit drugs posed a threat to the stability of the prison, contributing to debt, bullying and fear. The positive drug testing rate at HMP High Down was among the highest in adult male prisons”