Eight prison officers arrested on suspicion of corruption at high-security jail

EIGHT prison officers have been arrested on suspicion of corruption at a high-security jail.

Seven were nicked at HMP Swaleside in Kent last week after another was held  a month earlier.

A source said: “No one knows exactly what it is connected to — but there have been lots of examples of violence and drugs there.”

Bosses were still reeling from reports that 25 staff at the jail  were  poisoned with the drug spice by inmates last month.

The Ministry of Justice’s counter-corruption unit hunts for wrongdoing at prisons and among probation services.

But a spokesman said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on a live police investigation.”

Kent Police said all those arrested had been released on bail.

Swaleside holds serious offenders, including murderers.

In December, it was labelled  “struggling” in a  watchdog report  which  followed 14 deaths of inmates in  two years.

The report criticised staff shortages and “a severely restricted daily routine”.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons  Charlie Taylor said: “This was our sixth visit to Swaleside since 2016. During that time, we have repeatedly raised significant concerns about the prison.

“Overall, this was a concerning inspection. Swaleside is a prison that continues to struggle and where outcomes still need to improve dramatically.”

The jail on the Isle of Sheppey has  been hit by  riots in recent years. In one,  60 lags took control of a wing in 2016.