TWENTY five prison officers were taken ill after a staff curry was ‘spiked with a zombie drug by inmates’.
Emergency services were called to HMP Swaleside in Sheppey, Kent at 2.10pm on May 9, following what the Criminal Justice Workers Union described as a “mass poisoning of staff”.
Paramedics set up a medical incident unit at the jail and at least three employees were hospitalised.
It is suspected the synthetic drug Spice, also known as NPS, was added to the meal by prisoners in the canteen of the high-security jail.
Andy Hamlin, an official for the CJWU, said: “Prisoners preparing food in the staff canteen spiked a ‘staff special curry’ with what is believed to be a New Psychoactive Substance (NPS).
“Twenty-five staff were affected and were witnessed under the influence of NPS.
“Among those affected there were symptoms including breathing difficulties and raised heart rates.
“South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) sent nine ambulances to attend the incident with a makeshift incident unit set up within the establishment.”
A SECAmb spokesman confirmed three people were taken to Medway Maritime for further checks following the incident.
Lab-made cannabinoid Spice comes in the form of powdered chemicals or dried plant materials, and can cause side effects such as dizziness, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, chest pain, paranoia, inability to move, vomiting or diarrhoea.
In severe cases, suicidal thoughts, psychosis or acute kidney injury can occur.
Prisoners at HMP Swaleside, which has around 1,100 inmates, are required to complete an employment risk assessment in order to prepare and serve the food in the staff canteen.
But the last inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons found drugs were too easy to obtain at the jail.
The CJWU executive committee has demanded HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) carry out a full investigation into the incident.
A spokesperson said: “Although it is not unusual for prisoners to be working staff canteens, they are expected to be a low risk, which clearly hasn’t happened in this case.
“The CJWUnion demand HMPPS carry out a full investigation into this incident.
“HMPPS and local senior management team at HMP Swaleside must do more to protect the health and safety of its staff.”
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) confirmed that an investigation is in progress.
A spokesperson said: “A number of staff were taken ill following an incident at HMP Swaleside last week and those who attended the hospital were soon discharged.
“There is an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
They added that the government department is liaising with all relevant agencies involved and that no one taken to the hospital was in critical condition.
