Prisons: Drugs

(asked on 2nd September 2016) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to combat the supply of drugs into prisons.


Answered by
Sam Gyimah Portrait
Sam Gyimah
This question was answered on 12th September 2016

The Justice Secretary is clear that safety is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans. There are a number of factors, including the availability of drugs in prisons, which must be tackled in order to make our prisons safe and places of rehabilitation.

We have introduced tough new laws which will see those who smuggle packages over prison walls, including new psychoactive substances, face up to two years in prison. Those who involve themselves in the distribution of drugs in our prisons should know that they could face prosecution and extra time behind bars. We have a range of security measures and searching techniques in place to detect drugs, and to prevent smuggling into prisons.

I am looking closely at this important issue, and will be setting our further plans in due course.

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