Introduction: A Prison System in Peril

A recent inspection of HMP Swaleside, a Category B training prison in Kent, has laid bare a devastating portrait of systemic failure. The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, delivered the lowest scores recorded in his five-year tenure, describing the institution as dangerous, dirty, and drug-plagued. At the heart of this crisis is a reported violent takeover by organized religious gangs, which has left both inmates and staff feeling "powerless and unsafe." This blog post delves into the complex factors—from unchecked gang control and radicalisation to severe staffing shortages—that have pushed prisons like Swaleside into special measures and what it reveals about the wider, escalating state of the British penal system.

The Unchecked Rise of Religious Gangs and Radicalisation

According to the damning report from prison watchdogs, a central and alarming theme is the unchecked control exerted by religious gangs. Inspectors found a "pervasive sense of despair," with many prisoners reporting they felt powerless against these groups. This power dynamic is creating dangerous new alliances. A report by former prison governor Ian Acheson reveals that convicted sex offenders, traditionally at the bottom of the prison hierarchy, are now converting to Islam to seek "protection by Muslim gangs" and walk openly, avoiding the segregation once needed for their safety.

• Dominance and Fear: These gangs wield significant power, contributing to a climate of widespread violence and bullying. The report explicitly notes that "unchecked gang control, particularly by religious gangs" is a recurring perception among the inmate population.
• Convergence of Threats: Acheson warns of the "absolutely rational" cooperation between Islamist extremist prisoners and traditional organised crime gangs. This merger of ideological militancy and criminal enterprise creates a potent threat, where contraband like mobile phones can be used to spread extremist material.
• Demographic Context: It is important to note that nearly a third of the inmates at Swaleside identify as Muslim. The watchdog's findings highlight clashes between rival gangs over drugs and territory.

Systemic Failures: A Culture of Appeasement and Collapsing Security

While gang violence is a visible symptom, the root causes of the collapse are profoundly systemic. The report points to crippling staffing shortages, a decayed physical environment, and, as Acheson found, a "culture of appeasement" among senior management who are "placing the rights of prisoners above the rights of prison staff."

• Inexperienced Workforce & Attacks on Staff: Close to half of all prison officers have less than one year of experience on the job. The vulnerability of staff is stark. Ministry of Justice data exclusively revealed by GB News shows that between 2020 and 2024, Muslim prisoners carried out over 10,000 attacks on prison staff. This figure highlights a disproportionate level of violence and the intense pressure on officers.
• Security Neglect: Acheson's analysis found that some high-security prisons have inactive CCTV and "missing" drone defences, allowing contraband to flow in freely. He warns the "nightmare scenario" is weapons and ammunition reaching Islamist prisoners.
• Decrepit Conditions: Prisons are described as dirty and dilapidated, with conditions that dehumanise inmates and further erode order.

The Human Cost: An Environment of Universal Fear

The statistics from inmate surveys are a chilling testament to the daily reality. At HMP Swaleside, 75% of prisoners reported feeling unsafe and 33% said they had been assaulted. For staff, the fear is equally visceral and specific. Following a brutal attack by Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi at HMP Frankland—where he scalded officers with hot oil and stabbed them with makeshift blades—prison officers now openly fear being beheaded by Islamist terrorists.

The violence is not confined to high-security units. Recent months have seen:

• A prison officer's throat slashed with an improvised weapon at HMP Woodhill.
• A female officer sustain a broken arm after an attack at Gartree Prison.
• The Southport killer accused of throwing boiling water at officers in HMP Belmarsh.

This atmosphere of extreme fear and violence does nothing to reform offenders and instead likely breeds further radicalisation and trauma.

Policy Failures and the Overwhelming Scale of the Challenge

In response to the HMP Swaleside report, the government promised an emergency action plan. However, past initiatives to regain control have failed. Acheson advocated for "separation centres" to isolate extremist ringleaders in 2016 but believes they were "set up to fail" in their implementation.

The sheer scale of the problem now defies easy solution. Criminal defence lawyer Tony Wyatt explains that containing Muslim gang influence would require "entire prisons dedicated to that separation. And not just one prison, multiple prisons." This logistical nightmare unfolds as the Justice Secretary focuses primarily on easing overcrowding, leaving many to question what specific, effective measures will be taken to dismantle gang power and protect staff.

Muslim gangs have taken control of one of Britain most drug-ridden and violent prisons, watchdogs warn

CLICK HERE to read the article from the Daily Mail

Conclusion: A Failing Prison System Nearing a Breaking Point

The crisis in British prisons, exemplified by HMP Swaleside but endemic in high-security facilities like Frankland and Belmarsh, is a perfect storm of converging failures. Unchecked gang power has fostered a protection racket for the most despised inmates, while a culture of appeasement and security neglect has left staff exposed to unprecedented levels of violence. The convergence of Islamist extremist ideology with traditional prison gang crime creates a uniquely volatile mix.

This system is not just failing to rehabilitate; it is actively endangering the people who work within it and potentially radicalising those it holds. As Ian Acheson chillingly concludes, the prospect of a prison officer being murdered on duty is "closer than it's ever been." The health of any society can be judged by its prisons, and by this measure, the British justice system is signalling a profound sickness that demands not just an emergency plan, but a fundamental and courageous overhaul.

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Sources

• GB News. (2025, December 18). Muslim gangs 'launch violent takeover' of drug-addled British prison. https://www.gbnews.com/news/muslim-gangs-violent-takeover-british-prison-hmp-swaleside-kent
• GB News. (2025, May 31). Paedophile prisoners converting to Islam for ‘protection by Muslim gangs’, new report suggests. https://www.gbnews.com/news/paedophile-prisoners-converting-islam-protection-muslim-gangs
• GB News. (2025, April 15). Prison officers fear being beheaded by Islamist terrorists in Britain's most violent jails. https://www.gbnews.com/news/prison-officers-fear-beheaded-islamist-terrorists-manchester-arena-bomber-attack
• GB News. (2025, May 14). Patrick Christys reveals staggering number of attacks on prison staff carried out by Muslim inmates. https://www.gbnews.com/opinion/patrick-christys-prison-attacks-muslim-inmates