Oral Answers to Questions

James Davies Excerpts

Tuesday 9th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Richard Holden (North West Durham) (Con)]

3. What steps he is taking to reduce incidents of drug smuggling into prisons.

[Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con)]

10. What steps he is taking to reduce incidents of drug smuggling into prisons.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Dominic Raab)]

In the 12 months to March 2021, the number of incidents in which drugs were found in prisons decreased by 6% to 20,295.

[Dominic Raab]

My hon. Friend is right to ask that question. Since 2019, the Government have invested more than £100 million in prison security. We have installed 74 X-ray body scanners, which has resulted in more than 10,000 positive scans. I recently visited HMP Highdown and saw the equipment in action. It has stopped 100 smuggling attempts in the last year alone, involving drugs, weapons and mobile phones, and it allows that prison to operate safely.

[Dr Davies]

Prison staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep the prison population safe. They are also key to preventing instances of drug smuggling in our prisons. What is my right hon. Friend doing to support and resource their important work?

[Dominic Raab]

On top of the investment and the scanners, we have the Prisons (Substance Testing) Act 2021, which gives prison officers the powers to test prisoners for any psychoactive substance. We also now have enhanced gate security at 35 high-priority sites, and fixed and portable mobile phone blocking equipment to give officers all the tools that they need to keep their prisons safe.