Prison staff member is arrested on drug charge

A PRISON worker has been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences as part of a police crackdown on corruption in jails.

The woman was detained on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

She works at HMP Hindley in Wigan and was also held on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, a GMP spokesman said.

The woman was taken into police custody for questioning.

A number of suspected Class A and Class B drugs were seized from inside the Wigan jail after parts of the site were searched by police.

The action was the result of a joint operation between officers from TITAN – a specialist unit targeting corruption in prisons in the north west – and the probation service.

Detective Sergeant John Davies works for TITAN’s Prison Investigation Unit.

He said: “This arrest follows a three-month investigation into corruption within prisons across the north west.

“It has only been made possible with the support of staff at HMP Hindley.

“While we have made an arrest, I must stress that our investigation does not stop here and we will continue with our enquiries.”

HMP Hindley, located near Bickershaw village, is currently a young offenders and adult male category C prison.