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More drugs are being seized in prisons in England and Wales with a particular problem emerging with substances such as spice - chemicals made to act like the active ingredients in cannabis. The composition of these synthetic drugs keeps changing - some are legal in the UK but banned in prison, where they are believed to contribute to violence, drug debts and bullying.

'Traditionally, if people were using heroine or cannibis they would know what was going to happen to them when they used. But with these new subustances because nobody really knows what is in them, we are constantly trying to catch up in what components are in them', said Caroline Cole, from the Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust.

'We have seen people behavining in extremely unconventional ways. We have reports seeming to be stoned but then have very adverse effects a day later.'

Mark Icke, governor of Swaleside Prison said: 'It is the most challenging time in regards to substance abuse. I think it is linked to the increase in violence in prisons'.

'As we seize we these drugs, it can be changed in a matter of days so it makes it extremely difficult to detect so it makes it a huge problem for us'

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