Former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson paints a grim picture of the UK's prison system, highlighting issues that have contributed to a sharp rise in erroneous prisoner releases in recent months. He attributes chronic understaffing to low pay and poor working conditions, leaving jails reliant on inexperienced officers who are vulnerable to manipulation by charismatic and influential inmates. Acheson also warns that authorities have failed to counter the growing threat of drones smuggling contraband—primarily illegal drugs—into prisons, raising fears that dangerous weapons or even explosives could soon follow. Finally, he describes Islamist radicalisation in jails as a serious and escalating problem that remains inadequately addressed. In this vital episode, Ian Acheson gives us the inside story of Britain's prisons and proposes practical solutions to avert the total collapse of a system teetering on the brink.