The growing number of weapons being found at a London prison with 136 gangs is at risk of triggering a “self-reinforcing trend” with more young inmates arming themselves for protection, a watchdog warned on Wednesday.
The Independent Monitoring Board for Isis jail in south east London, which is the capital’s “hub prison for convicted young adult men”, said violence associated with the “illicit economy” behind bars and a 50 per cent rise in the “more violent 18 to 21 age group” inside had contributed to an increase in weapon discoveries and attacks.
