Officers seized kilo of drugs in a year at new jail
OFFICERS seized almost a kilo of drugs from inmates at a Welsh prison over the last year.
Statistics show that the newlybuilt HMP Berwyn in Wrexham – which will be Europe’s largest prison when fully operational –has a growing contraband problem.
Drugs were seized on 46 occasions in the Welsh jail in 2017/18.
In the last year, officers found almost a kilo of drugs in the prison, among other contraband.
Psychoactive substances were the most common find – seized 13 times in the last year.
Prison officers also confiscated 91 mobile phones and 76 SIM cards from prisoners – up from one of each the year before.
Drug seizures in prisons across Wales and England are at a record high. In the last year, guards found drugs in prisons on 13,119 occasions – up from 10,666 the year before, and nearly three times higher than the 4,774 seizures seen in 2007/08, when the figures began. A whopping 189 kilos of drugs were found in jails in 2017/18 alone. Psychoactive substances were the most common – seized 4,667 times in the last year.
Guards also seized 15,036 mobile phones (up from 13,732 the year before) and 9,345 SIM cards (up from 7,203).
The data was published by HM Prison and Probation Service, which oversees the running of prisons in Wales and England.
Earlier this month it was a revealed by the Independent Monitoring Board that some prisoners were so fearful of reprisals for drug debt within the facility that they were taking refuge in the prison’s separation unit.
It also found that prisoners were treated “fairly and with decency” overall, with those locked up standing a good chance of rehabilitation if they get on board with the prison’s aims.
Justice Secretary David Gauke said: “The cycle of violence (in prison) is fuelled by illicit substances.
“We recently announced £30m in prison security, which builds on our investment in body scanners, improved searching techniques and phone-blocking technology.”
“All of this is essential in ensuring prisons are places of rehabilitation, ultimately reducing reoffending and protecting the public.
“We are also adopting pioneering approaches such as our ‘Drug Recovery Prison’ pilot at HMP Holme House, which is leading the way in tackling the supply of drugs and putting offenders on a long-term path to recovery.”