A CORONER has called on an urgent review of security fencing at a Dorset prison after hearing how inmates can transfer easily drugs around the jail.

He has also flagged issues with how HMP Guy’s Marsh staff deal with welfare concerns raised by a prisoner’s family and friends.

Kyle Nel, 32, was found unconscious in his cell by his cell mate at the prison near Shaftesbury on June 9, 2018.

Despite efforts by prison staff and paramedics to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead.

An inquest into Mr Nel’s death held at Bournemouth Town Hall last month reached a conclusion of misadventure.

The medical cause of death was given as aspiration of gastric contents associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoid SF-ADB, also known as spice.

Assistant coroner Stephen Nicholls, who presided over the inquest, has written to the governor at HMP Guy’s Marsh, the chief executive of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and prisons minister Victoria Atkins MP due to concerns arising from the inquest.

Mr Nicholls said in his opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.

The coroner’s concerns related to the quality of response given to Mr Nel’s mother by a member of prison staff when she raised concerns about her son, the bullying he was subject to and the debts he incurred, and the action that followed.

He also flagged evidence relating to prisoners being able to pass items through prison fences between units, which enables drugs and other prohibited items to be transferred.

Mr Nicholls said the inquest heard this was a known issue but no action had been taken.

His preventing future deaths report said: “I have concerns that when members of a prisoner’s family or friends contact the prison raising concerns as to the health or welfare of a prisoner, there needs to be structured approach and computer record kept of those concerns, the measures taken to deal with the concerns and a formal written response to the family or friends who have raised those concerns.

“It is understood that while there are potential security and confidentiality issues that may arise from this process suitable measures should be considered and implemented.

“The security fences within the prison estate need to be reviewed and consideration urgently given to prevent drugs and other prohibited materials being passed between prisoners through the fences.”

The parties Mr Nicholls wrote to are expected to reply to his concerns by February 17, 2022, with details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action, or an explanation why no action is proposed.