Prisons: Drugs

(asked on 22nd November 2016) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of drug use in prisons and its impact on violence levels.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Keen of Elie
This question was answered on 22nd December 2016

As the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has said, the rise in dangerous psychoactive substances has been a game-changer in terms of its impact on levels of safety in prisons. The Justice Secretary has been clear that levels of violence in prisons are unacceptable and has announced a major overhaul of the prison system including 2,500 extra frontline prison officers. These extra officers and new safety measures will help us crack down on the toxic cocktail of drugs, drones and mobile phones that are in our prisons. Our measures will create prisons that are places of safety and reform, giving prisoners the education and skills they need to turn their back on crime for good.

We take a zero tolerance approach to drugs in our prisons. We have rolled out tests for new psychoactive substances, and have trained 300 dogs to detect these drugs. We have introduced tough new laws which will see those who smuggle packages over prison walls face up to two years in prison. And every prisoner will have a dedicated officer to support them as they quit drugs, get back into learning and break the cycle of reoffending.

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