Muslim gangs have taken control of one of Britain's most drug-ridden and violent prisons, watchdogs warn

Muslim gangs hold sway at one of the most violent and drug-ridden prisons in Britain, watchdogs have warned. 

Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor has served an urgent notification for HMP Swaleside in Kent after discovering dangerously unsafe conditions for prisoners and staff in an unannounced visit earlier this month.

Mr Taylor said the prison was 'filthy', rife with drugs and had a 'pervasive sense of despair', leading him to give it the 'worst scores of any jail in my five years as chief inspector'. 

The jail's Independent Monitoring Board previously raised concerns about 'religious gangs' at the facility, where a third of inmates are Muslim. 

'A recurring theme is the perception of widespread violence, including bullying by both prisoners and staff, as well as unchecked gang control, particularly by religious gangs, which many prisoners report feeling powerless and unsafe against,' the IMB said.

Their report noted that there was evidence of rival gangs fighting over drugs, racist comments and discrimination against Jewish prisoners. 

The IMB described violence as a 'constant theme' and called the manufacturing of blades on site 'ominous'. 

There were 107 assaults on staff over a three-month period, with 70 per cent triggered by officers giving instructions.

Six inmates were attacked on their first night at the prison.

In his own inspection, Mr Taylor found inmates at the Category B jail who were too frightened to go to health appointments or use the gym because of fears of violence. 

Writing to Justice Secretary David Lammy to issue his urgent notification, Mr Taylor described 'very high levels of violence' as affecting every aspect of prison life, with a third of prisoners surveyed saying they had been assaulted and three quarters felt unsafe.

Drug-taking was 'rife', drones were regularly dropping contraband into the prison, including knives, and inspectors also saw widespread graffiti, fire damage, broken furniture and mouldy showers.