About This Article
Zoom Testing has over 20 years of experience providing drug testing products and guidance in the UK. This archived article preserves our July 2018 reporting on Spice use and drone deliveries at HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire, reflecting the circumstances reported at the time.
Originally published: 10 July 2018 | Reviewed: 13 October 2026 | By: Anthony Cunningham
From the Zoom Testing Archive: Originally published on 10 July 2018, this article records news and circumstances being reported at HMP The Mount in 2017 and 2018. Prison security measures, drug trends, legislation and related guidance may have changed since publication. For current drug testing information and guidance, please see our latest articles.
A report published in 2018 highlighted the sharp increase in drug activity at HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire, with the main problem being an explosion in the use of the drug Spice.
Problems began in December 2017 when security netting around the jail came down due to heavy snow. Soon after, drug-carrying drones began flying directly to prisoners’ windows.
Spice is a drug that can cause severe adverse effects, including confusion and reduced responsiveness. It is a drug that has been smuggled to prisoners, creating a real challenge for prisons as they try to crack down on its use.
A report by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) stated that Spice use at HMP The Mount reached an ‘all-time high’ as inmates started to receive deliveries that were flown directly to them by drug dealers.
The collapsed netting was only replaced in April 2018. By then, according to the reporting at the time, Spice had become widely available in the jail.
The IMB report stated:
‘The netting that used to protect the prison from throw-overs was brought down by the December snow fall.
‘Anecdotally, since then drugs and mobile phones have been widely available within the prison.
‘Through the year there has been considerable drone activity but this has reduced since protective grills have been put on most cell windows.’
Prisoners Started to Fall Ill
The increase in use of Spice resulted in many prisoners becoming ill. The report described an average of 20 prisoners needing emergency care each month, with about a quarter of those needing treatment outside of the prison at an external hospital’s A&E department.
A spokesperson for the prison service was quoted as saying: ‘The netting has been replaced. We work with police to keep the prison walls under watch and we’ll prosecute anyone trying to smuggle in drugs.’
About the Author
Anthony Cunningham – Drug Testing Expert & Editor
Anthony Cunningham, BA (Hons), MA, is a UK-based drug testing expert and editor with over 20 years’ experience running Zoom Testing, a trusted source for accurate drug testing kits and testing guidance. He creates clear, evidence-based articles using UK legislation, workplace compliance standards, and harm reduction best practices. Where possible, content is reviewed by testing specialists and compliance professionals to enhance accuracy and reliability, helping readers make informed testing decisions.
