Minister: I will quit if I fail to cut drugs & violence in jails
PRISONS Minister Rory Stewart has pledged to quit if he fails to reduce drug abuse and violence in the 10 worst jails.
The Ministry of Justice is spending £10million on the prisons in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and London.
Mr Stewart said: “I will quit if I haven’t succeeded in 12 months in reducing the level of drugs and violence in those prisons.”
A total of £6million will go on drug dogs, body-scanners and improvements to perimeter defences, £3million on repairs and £1million on training. Mr Stewart said: “I want to make a measurable difference.” But Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon said the Government had to go “much further”. He said: “It must set out an emergency plan across the prisons estate with substantial new funding to make our prisons safe and humane.”