Call for airport-style scanners to help keep drugs out of prisons
AIRPORT-STYLE SECURITY should be installed across jails to halt the flow of illicit substances, the prisons watchdog has said.
Peter Clarke called for tougher measures including the scanning of all visitors and staff entering prisons.
Drugs including new psychoactive substances – formerly known as legal highs – have been identified as a major factor in surging levels of violence and self-harm across the estate.
Mr Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said: “Nothing will change unless safety is dealt with and a key part of safety is keeping drugs out of jail.
“New psychoactive substances are still destabilising a lot of prisons and contributing to a huge amount of violence.
“Some of them are deluged in it.
“It’s making them virtually unmanageable. Jails need more support from the centre around technology and techniques. Things like scanners. Think in terms of airport security.”
The Ministry of Justice said it is taking “unprecedented action” to tackle the supply and use of drugs, including an innovative drug testing programme, the training of more than 300 specialist drug dogs and upgrades to CCTV cameras across the estate.
A spokesman for the department said: “We have also invested heavily in modern technology.”