Drug ‘poisoning’ prison officers taken to hospital

TWO prison officers had to be taken to hospital after being ‘poisoned’ by drugs while working inside a privately-run jail.

Police were called to HMP Addiewell in West Lothian on Thursday after a number of prisoners and staff there became unwell.

The guards were taken to St John’s Hospital in nearby Livingston as a precautionary measure while others were treated by prison medics. An investigation has been launched into the incident.

In 2017, two other members of staff at the jail required medical treatment when they inhaled fumes from the psychoactive drug Spice, which was being smoked by inmates after it was smuggled into the prison.

The latest incident comes just weeks after His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland reported serious safety issues at the jail, prompted by a chronic shortage of experienced staff.

A spokesman for the facility, which is run by private operator Sodexo, said that the staff concerned had been dealing with two prisoners who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance.

He added: ‘As a result (of this) some members of the responding team developed symptoms which required hospital medical attention.’

The Community union, which represents staff working in the custodial sector, has previously raised concerns over the amount of drugs in Scottish jails.

Steve Farrell, the union’s regional secretary, said: ‘This extremely concerning incident is a sobering reminder of the challenges officers face across the Scottish prison estate.

‘No one should live with the constant fear they might be assaulted, or their lives put at risk at work. Yet our members are all too often faced with that reality and are being subjected to threats and abuse from prisoners who have access to and are using these drugs.’

The union has urged the Scottish Government to develop an action plan to stop psychoactive drugs and other contraband entering prisons.

Mr Farrell added: ‘We need to see urgent action to prevent the poisoning of prison staff at work that puts our members’ lives at risk.’

Police officers have previously carried out a series of raids to target the smuggling of contraband into the West Lothian jail.

Prison staff have also regularly carried out intelligence-led searches that have uncovered drugs, mobile phones and other illicit items at Addiewell.

‘We need to see urgent action’