Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce substance misuse and dependence in prisons; and if will he make a statement.

We have formed a Drugs Taskforce working with law enforcement and health partners across government to coordinate our activities and ensure a holistic approach to tackling substance misuse in prisons. The Taskforce is developing a national Prison Drug Strategy, for publication this autumn, underpinned by advice and guidance that will support the whole of the estate to restrict supply, reduce demand and build recovery.

Our Drugs Taskforce is also working specifically with 10 of the most challenging prisons to understand their situation, and will invest £6 million to tackle drug supply in these establishments. We will enhance physical security and invest in more staff focused on effective searching, drug-detection dogs, body scanners, and improved perimeter defences. We will monitor and assess the progress made in these ten prisons to inform our approach and best practice across the estate.

We are adopting pioneering approaches, such as our ‘Drug Recovery Prison’ pilot at HMP Holme House, which is leading the way in tackling the supply of drugs and helping prisoners to lead a drug-free life. Security has been bolstered by new body scanners and extra detection dogs while specialist healthcare workers and interventions have been introduced to support recovering users. We have also established a specialist Financial Crime Unit, to identify and freeze bank accounts linked to organised crime behind bars, tackling the criminal kingpins who fuel drug dealing and violence.