In the 14 months leading up to January, 65 employees were found guilty in 143 cases, with 42 being sentenced to prison. In the year following the unit’s formation with 29 staff in April 2019, there were just ten successful prosecutions of 123 cases.
Smuggling in prohibited commodities and selling Class A drugs to inmates are examples of crimes.
‘It’s the tip of the iceberg,’ said John Podmore, ex-governor of Belmarsh Jail.
‘It’s crucial to have a large number of investigators. You’ll catch more if you have more.’
Following the creation of a specialised investigation unit, the number of prison officers convicted on corruption charges has surged by 600%.
According to data released under the Freedom of Information Act, there were 65 staff convictions out of 143 instances in the 14 months leading up to January.
There were 42 prison sentences, 17 suspended sentences, five court fines, and one community term among the sanctions.
In comparison, only 10 out of 123 cases were successfully prosecuted in the first year after the unit was established in April 2019. Supplying Class A drugs to inmates, smuggling in prohibited items, and misconduct in public office are all crimes.
Guard Jack Nichols, 29, was sentenced to one year and four months in prison last year after being paid £4,000 by an inmate to smuggle cannabis and tobacco into HMP Stocken in Rutland.
Stephanie Smithwhite, 41, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2020 for having sex with drug lord Curtis ‘Cocky’ Warren at Frankland Prison in Co Durham.
For smuggling Class A drugs and an Xbox One into HMP Coldingley in Surrey, Joshua Bossman-Brandt, 40, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
‘Even with these convictions, it’s the tip of the iceberg,’ said John Podmore, former governor of Belmarsh Prison.
The aim is to recruit as many investigators as possible; the more you have, the more you’ll catch.’
The anti-corruption squad was formed with 29 specialized personnel divided into five regional teams. Twenty full-time police investigators are also funded by the Prison Service across the country.
With the use of 70 new cutting-edge X-ray body scanners, the Ministry of Justice claimed last month that it had blocked nearly 20,000 attempts to sneak contraband onto prison wings in two years, including a haul of 81 wraps of crack cocaine.
‘The vast majority of prison staff are hardworking, devoted, and honest,’ a Ministry of Justice spokesman said, ‘but our taskforce is assisting in ensuring that anyone who abuses the rules is rooted out and punished.’
‘We’ve put £100 million into improving jail security and cracking down on the contraband that fuels violence and criminality.’