Vol. 409 No. 5
20 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the widely reported high level of drug abuse within our prisons, he will outline the plans, if any, he has to screen all those visiting the prisons; if he has any proposals to secure the perimeter of our prisons in order to prevent the throwing of drugs into exercise areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is some drug abuse in the prisons but it is not as extensive as is sometimes suggested. Such abuse is possible only to the extent that drugs can be brought into the prisons illegally. The quantities involved can be very small and the difficulties posed for prison authorities in preventing their access are obviously great.
Measures could be taken, such as the erection of barriers between visitors and prisoners, and the strip-searching of all persons, including visitors entering the prisons, which would virtually eliminate the problem but the result would be an inhumanely restrictive visiting regime.
The measures that are being taken, such as the closer supervision of visits, the provision of surveillance cameras, restrictive visiting arrangements for known drug smugglers and increased perimeter security, should help to reduce the problem. The need for further measures will be kept under review. The most effective deterrent is staff vigilance, and drug identification and control form part of the prison officer training programme.
