AN unacceptable level of bullying and fear are prevalent in Channings Wood Prison, near Denbury, primarily the result of illegal trade within the jail, a report revealed this week.

That disruption is caused by the gang behaviour involving illegal trade in drugs and mobile phones.

Security reports routinely point to illicit phones as having been used in both the organisation and timing of illicit drug receipts into the prison.

The problems are revealed in the annual report of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at Channings Wood which says: 'The levels of intimidation, bullying and fear resulting from the trade in illicit phones within the prison are significant.

'National Offender Management Service (NOMS) excuses are quite unacceptable to us and our IMB colleagues in other prisons'.<

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