HL Deb 25 January 1999 vol 596 cc129-30WA
Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will set out their proposals for deterring prisoners and their visitors from smuggling drugs into prison. [HL687]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Prison governors have a range of sanctions available to deal with visitors, prisoners and young offenders involved in such activity. But my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is keen to see a more consistent approach across the prison estate. To this end, he has asked the Director General of the Prison Service to introduce a more standardised response.

It is clear that most drugs coming into prison are brought in by visitors. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary intends to provide governors with a new power to ban a visitor for a specified time. The imposition of a ban, and its duration, will be determined by the quantity and type of drugs passed, the relationship between the visitor, prisoner or young offender and the circumstances of the offence. He would expect a typical ban to be at least three months. In cases where a ban is not justified, visitors may be subject to warnings, closed visits and increased security. Prison and young offender institution (YOI) staff will continue to report all attempts to smuggle drugs to the police.

Prisoners and young offenders believed to be involved in bringing in drugs will face the increased use of closed visits, regular targeted mandatory drug testing and disciplinary proceedings.

These measures will support one of the key elements in our overall prison drugs strategy, namely supply reduction. The Prison Service will also maintain its commitment to the provision of drug treatment and education within prisons. Last year's comprehensive spending review resulted in an additional £14 million for treatment, £6 million for throughcare and £2.5 million for voluntary testing.

A short implementation phase for the new measures will take place, enabling relevant parties to be briefed on the new arrangements before they are universally implemented on 1 April 1999.