Question to the Attorney General:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prosecutions the Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service have brought in respect of drug (1) possession, (2) dealing, and (3) smuggling, in London’s prisons since 1 January 2013.

Prosecutions for drug possession, dealing and smuggling in a prison setting may be brought under a number of differing legislative provisions. Prosecutions for these sorts of offences investigated by the Metropolitan Police are conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Whilst the CPS holds data relating to prosecutions brought under the Prisons Act 1952, it is not possible to disaggregate, from those relating to other proscribed articles, the number of offences relating to drug possession, dealing or smuggling.

The CPS also holds data relating to offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 but it is not possible to disaggregate those which have taken place in custodial institutions.

Section 9 of the Psychoactive Substances Act (PSA) 2016 provides the offence of possession of a psychoactive substance in a custodial institution. Since the Act came into force no prosecutions brought under this section have been completed in the London Area.

A national joint protocol between the CPS, Police and the National Offender Management Service is in force for crimes in prisons. The CPS works very closely with police and prison colleagues to ensure that acts of criminality within prisons are properly addressed.