Prisons’ Minister Paul Goggins today announced robust new measures to stem the flow of drugs into Northern Ireland’s prisons.

He was speaking at the publication of an internal NIPS report aimed at targeting the smuggling of drugs into prison establishments.

Mr Goggins also announced proposed developments for additional services to combat the problems of drugs and alcohol misuse.

The Report makes 38 recommendations, including;

• The introduction of mandatory drugs and alcohol testing
• Increased searching of prisoners leaving the visits area
• Taking further steps to explore the deployment of mobile phone blockers in Northern Ireland
• Closer co-operation between the Prison Service and the PSNI to target known drug users and traffickers.
• Improved use of CCTV to observe prisoners suspected of drugs possession.
• The introduction of random searching of staff and contractors by passive drugs dog

Many of the recommendations will be implemented in the coming weeks, while some will require legislation.

The Minister said the implementation of these new arrangements would help the Prison Service in its battle against the drugs trade.

“I am concerned about the increased availability of drugs in prisons in recent years. The recommendations contained in this report will enable the Prison Service to strengthen search procedures and reduce the amounts being smuggled in.

“The drugs problem in prisons is a reflection of what is happening in the wider community, where there is increased demand and more readily available supplies of illicit substances.

“Many inmates have ended up in prison as a result of their addiction and if we are to tackle the scourge of substance misuse and address offending behaviour, it is essential that we cut off the supply of drugs.

“I commend the efforts that the Prison Service has is already making to curtail drug levels in prisons and I am confident that prison establishments will be safer and more secure as a consequence of these new arrangements.”

In addition, the Minister has announced the initial results of a detailed review of addiction services within the Prison Service. Plans are being drawn up for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to take lead responsibility for addiction services within the three prison establishments later this year.

Existing arrangements with three voluntary organisations currently delivering counselling and programmes within the prisons have been reviewed. Fresh specifications are being drawn up to provide a clearer focus on the provision of practical support for prisoners who wish to get away from their addiction.

The Minister added: “In tackling drug misuse we need to reduce demand as well as supply, which is why improving treatment services is so important. There is an important role for the voluntary sector to play, alongside the Trust and the Prison Service. We need to gear up our provision of treatment programmes to meet the needs of the Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2008. I intend to make a more detailed announcement in the Autumn.”


Notes to Editors

1. Last year the Minister called on the Prison Service to carry out a review into the extent of drugs misuse in Northern Ireland prisons and bring forward proposals to minimise the supply.

2. The report, which drew upon best practice in other jurisdictions as part of the consultation process, contains 38 recommendations across a range of areas including security, visits, home leaves, staff deployment, training and publicity.

3. The recommendations of the Report will be implemented on a phased basis.
4. ‘The Report on Minimising the Supply of Drugs in Northern Ireland Prisons’ is available on the NIPS website on www.niprisonservice.gov.uk.

5. The work to enhance addiction services will be taken forward in a holistic strategy, alongside all the other measures to provide a better response to the challenges of drugs and alcohol misuse.

Related Publication - Published report on mimimising the supply of drugs in Northern Ireland Prisons.PDF

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