Prison Education Cuts Drive Up Drug Use and Violence, Chief Inspector Warns

England's prisons have slashed education spending by up to 50 percent, cutting teaching staff dramatically at some facilities. The Chief Inspector of Prisons warns this fuels despair and rising drug use and violence. His concern intensifies as thousands of inmates prepare for release under new sentencing rules, with weak community support waiting outside. The cuts contradict Labour's 2024 pledge to strengthen prison learning.