Prison and Youth Custody Centre Safety Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Prison and Youth Custody Centre Safety

Kevin Foster Excerpts
Wednesday 19th July 2017

(7 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kevin Foster Portrait Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)
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The Minister will share my concern about the impact of contraband, and particularly new psychoactive substances, on prisoners and the violence that it can cause, so will he say what measures the Department is taking to prevent such materials from getting into prisons?

Phillip Lee Portrait Dr Lee
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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. We have improved the seizure of drugs; the figure for the past 12 months is about 225 kg, which is up on the previous year. We have employed dogs to detect psychoactive substances, and we were the first jurisdiction in the world to introduce drug testing for psychoactive substances. We continue to develop that service as the substances evolve.