Press Release – HMP SWALESIDE
15/05/2024
The Criminal Justice Workers Union are concerned at the reports from HMP Swaleside regarding the deliberate poisoning of staff by prisoners working in the staff canteen with Spice.
Although it is not unusual for prisoners to be working staff canteens, they are expected to be the low risk, which clearly hasn’t happened in this case.
Spice is a synthetic psychoactive substance, designed to replicate the high of illegal drugs. It can cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties, hallucinations, raised heart rate and is extremely dangerous to those pre existing illnesses.
Our members have raised valid concerns, and believe the senior management team at HMP Swaleside have attempted to play down the incident with staff being instructed not to discuss the incident or mention it on social media. This has led staff to believe the senior management team are prioritising the establishment reputation, over the health and safety of its staff.
The CJWUnion demand HMPPS carry out a full investigation into this incident which resulted in 25 staff being poisoned, 9 south east coast Ambulances attending, an emergency incident unit being set up within the establishment and 5 members of staff being admitted to hospital.
HMPPS and local senior management team at HMP Swaleside must do more to protect the health and safety of its staff.
Executive Committee
Criminal Justice Workers Union
