Still using drugs: even inside prisons

Now, Justice Minister David Ford has acknowledged that there is a high level of addiction behind bars in Northern Ireland, and outlined the Prison Service’s Strategy to tackle the problem.

The Alliance Party MLA revealed that there were 245 illicit drug finds in HMP Magilligan in the period from August 2009 to July 2012.

Across Northern Ireland there were 1,161 illicit drugs finds in the three prisons, Maghaberry, Magilligan and Hydebank.

David Ford provided the information in response to a written question from DUP MLA for the Lagan Valley area, Mr Paul Givan.

From August to December 2009 there were 22 illicit drug finds in Magilligan and 109 across all three prisons. From January to December 2010 there were 76 in Magilligan and 341 across Northern Ireland, from January to December 2011 there were 85 finds in Magilligan and 452 across all three prisons and from January to July 2012 there were 62 finds of illicit drugs in Magilligan and 259 across Northern Ireland’s three prisons.

In that three year period, the most illicit drugs were uncovered in Maghaberry with 568, followed by Hydebank with 348 and in Magilligan there were 245 discoveries of illicit drugs.

Mr Givan has since followed up on that line of questioning by asking the Alliance Party Minister “for his assessment of the effectiveness of prison regimes which aim to prevent illicit drugs entering and circulating within prisons.”

David Ford replied: “I recognise the high level of substance addiction within the prison population which has often been developed within the community over many years. I also acknowledge the impact that the misuse of prescription and other drugs can have within the prison estate.

“Prisoners are provided with prescription drugs just like any other member of the community and are expected to behave responsibly. The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SET) is responsible for the delivery of healthcare within our prisons and has developed a policy of ‘in possession’ medication in line with the practice in England and Wales. This policy is based on the equivalence principle, the notion that prisoners should have access to the same quality and range of healthcare services as the general public receives from the NHS.

However, experience has shown that prescription and illegally introduced drugs can be open to abuse in a prison setting and NIPS therefore has a strategy in place to address this problem.”

He outlined the measures: “Working with other criminal justice agencies, particularly PSNI, to target any individual introducing illegal substances and disrupt drug trafficking routes into prisons.

“Maintaining and developing the use of technology that will assist in preventing the trafficking of

drugs; completion of routine searches, including the use of active search dogs; engaging in intelligence led searches of cells, prisons, property and visitors.

“Raising intelligence awareness amongst staff in NIPS and SET service providers where relevant; maximising and targeting the use of passive drugs search dogs for prevention and detection; mandatory drug testing to identify prevalence of drug misuse and identify individuals abusing substances and ensure they are notified to addiction services; random testing for the purpose of risk assessment suspicion.”

Other measures outlined by the Minister included: “Home leave testing to ensure that prisoners prior to and returning from such leave are tested in an appropriate and timely manner, including life sentence prisoners on release; revised anti-bullying policy to be introduced; provision of individual safes for storing prescription medicine, and disciplinary action and removal from association with other prisoners where necessary.”

He added: “An operational governor is also conducting a review of the effectiveness of the measures in place to minimise the availability of illicit drugs in prisons and is expected to shortly submit a report outlining his initial findings.”