How gangs are planting prison officers in jails: Cartels are getting ‘clean’ members to work behind bars as ‘sleeper agents’ so they can pump drugs across Britain’s prisons [Video]

06:49 EDT 28 Apr 2024, updated 06:54 EDT 28 Apr 2024

Gang bosses are infiltrating jails by paying people with no criminal record to become prison officers and act as ‘sleeper’ agents for their drug smuggling operations, the chief inspector of prisons has warned.

Charlie Taylor said ‘very sophisticated organised crime groups’ were employing so-called clean skins to take roles inside jails – where drugs are three times more expensive than on the streets.

Former prison guards told MailOnline that a crisis in recruitment and retention is being exploited by organised criminals as a chance to plant their own associates inside jails or corrupt existing officers. 

Linda Sage, a criminal psychologist with 40 years’ experience inside prisons, said offenders were ‘skillful’ at exploiting social links with employees’ families and friends while also deploying threats and bribery. 

Mr Taylor said he has become ‘increasingly concerned’ about the amount of drugs that are finding their way into prisons. In a recent …