Prison chiefs blasted for blowing thousands of taxpayers’ money on hip-hop classes for inmates

It adds: "The combination of drugs, violence, an inexperienced and demotivated staff team, and a very poor regime, meant the prison was failing in many of its most basic functions."

The findings were so serious that the Urgent Notification protocol was invoked.

When inspectors returned in January 2026, prison chiefs had begun to make "some progress", but many problems "remained unchanged," and the prison was declared "not sufficiently good".

Despite the continuing problems, HMP Manchester last month signed off on a contract worth thousands of taxpayers’ money for music courses for inmates.

Procurement records show the contract, awarded on September 28, will run from October 7 until March 31, 2027, to the tune of £15,000. It will consist of two projects, focused on rap and hip-hop music, "reflecting the interests of the prison population".

Anne Strickland, researcher at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers should not be footing a £15,000 bill for rap and hip-hop courses in a prison plagued by drugs, violence and illicit phones.

"This is exactly the kind of spending that should be scrapped when basic security is still failing.

"HMP Manchester should spend every spare pound getting control of the prison, not funding music projects for inmates."

While the contractor named on procurement records is simply "Wings", it is believed to be the Manchester-based charity New Wings.

The organisation was founded by former drug dealer and addict turned evangelist Nick Shahlav. "Nick reaches the hardest to reach in prisons, pupil referral units, schools, and disadvantaged communities through rap music, live performances, and discipleship," its website reads.

The prison was given a "poor" rating in both 2024 and 2026 for "purposeful activities".

Inspectors also said 44 per cent of prisoners were unemployed and that HMP Manchester was failing in its role as a training prison, with those unemployed within the prison spending all but three hours a day locked inside their cells.

Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: "What we saw at Manchester was far too many prisoners sitting in their cells watching daytime TV and in many cases taking drugs."

Similar music schemes have already been introduced at other prisons. HMP Barlinnie has already committed to an eight-week hip-hop project, which saw inmates write lyrics and produce finished recordings before a showcase.

New Wings has previously delivered rap, lyric-writing and spoken-word work at HMP Hewell, while prisoners at HMP Whitemoor have taken part in projects involving rap, grime and other genres.

The schemes are aimed at improving confidence, communication and engagement with education.

But HMP Manchester, formerly known as Strangeways, has previously seen inmates use illicit mobile phones to build online music followings from behind bars.

Malcolm Graham, known as Mazza L20, amassed many of his millions of listeners while incarcerated at the institution after being handed an 11-year sentence for firearms offences in 2016.

His prison discography includes Murdaside - a track which went viral, accumulating more than 30 million Spotify listens and 16 million YouTube plays, before being remixed by former I'm a Celebrity star Aitch and reaching the UK Top 20.

While Graham continued to release music after he was released in 2024 following an eight-year stint behind bars, he was recalled to prison in 2026 after "breaching his licensing conditions".

Robbie Scott, an acid attacker serving an 11-year sentence, posted violent songs from his cell under the name "HMP hardest rapper Robdog".

He was jailed for robbery, carrying a zombie knife, possessing a corrosive substance and causing grievous bodily harm with intent after squirting acid into a dad’s face.

After Scott released the provocative music - in which he claimed to "roll on the streets with a kitchen knife" and would "not think twice about dipping guys" - the victim told the Metro that it was a "disgrace" he was able to record himself rapping from his cell.

"It just shows the sort of person he is, and when his sentence is over he will probably do it again," he told the newspaper.

The victim was left permanently blind in one eye, and Scott’s sentence was later increased by the Court of Appeal.

The Ministry of Justice told GB News that activities "help maintain order behind bars and break the cycle of reoffending."

But Strangeways announced a crackdown on a growing illicit mobile phone problem in November last year. Officers revealed they had seized and destroyed more than 500 mobile phones, electronic devices, and Sim cards from inmates.

These, police warned, had been used to arrange drug deals, weapon drops and violent attacks across Manchester.

Drones have also plagued the prison, bringing large quantities of drugs into the jail and fuelling violence and instability. In a 2024 report, inspectors observed: "A very high percentage of prisoners were testing positive for drugs and physical security remained too weak to stop drones delivering illicit items."

And earlier this year, Mr Taylor blamed the issue on insecure windows that have not been repaired for two years. Repairs to the windows have been delayed due to what was described as an "absurdly bureaucratic planning process", with prison bosses failing to resolve the issue.

The prison also has one of the highest levels of violence, with 30 per cent of inmates saying they feel unsafe.

An MoJ spokesman said: "We’re investing millions in security measures at prisons like HMP Manchester, including upgraded CCTV, windows, and biometric technology, to crack down on the contraband that fuels violence.

"Prisoners are subject to strict rules and conditions, but activities that keep them busy and engaged also help maintain order behind bars and break the cycle of reoffending."