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A serious attack at a Lancashire prison has sparked a police investigation and raised questions over inmate safety.
The victim, a man in his 20s, was targeted in an attack using a combination of boiling water and sugar – known colloquially as a ‘prison napalm’ – on 24 September 2024 at HMP Garth in Leyland.
He spent two weeks in hospital with what family members described as ‘life-changing injuries’ as a result of the attack. Blog Preston has decided not to name the victim or his family members out of concern for their welfare.
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The incident was reported to Lancashire Constabulary on 8 October – two weeks after the attack took place.
Both Lancashire Constabulary and the Ministry of Justice confirmed that the attack had taken place – and when it was reported – but neither explained why there might be a two-week gap.
The victim had first been assaulted on 9 September and was moved to a separate wing of the hospital for his safety before the 24 September attack, it has been claimed.
It is also claimed that a request to move prisons on safety grounds, made between the two attacks, has not been acknowledged.
A family member told Blog Preston: “He’s had to go back to HMP Garth and he’s scared for his life.
“The first attack was on a normal wing – he then got moved to a vulnerable prison wing which he should have been safe on but clearly they fail to make sure prisoners are safe.”
A prison service spokesperson told Blog Preston: “Violence is not tolerated in prisons and anyone found responsible will be punished.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further while the police are investigating.”
A spokesperson for police said: “We were contacted on 8th October about an assault at HMP Garth. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Hot water is mixed with sugar to deliberately worsen the effects of burning. As a method attacking inmates, it has become more prevalent over the last five years. Access to sugar has also been restricted at a number of prisons, understood to include HMP Garth, partly because of how it can be used to brew illicit alcohol.
The most recent inspection of HMP Garth, by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons in November 2022, found a number of key concerns. These included not enough being done to ensure prisoner safety on arrival to prison, drugs being too easily available, staff being passive or distant with prisoners, and the application and complaint systems not working effectively.
In that report, surveys drew the conclusion that too many prisoners felt unsafe and that some of the incidents inside HMP Garth were classed as ‘serious’.
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