HC Deb 29 June 1999 vol 334 cc99-101W
Mr. Stinchcombe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs are currently used in the Prison Service for the purpose of detecting drugs in prison; where they are located; how many prisons do not have full-time and exclusive access to such a dog; and what the costs are of training and keeping such a dog. [88307]

Mr. George Howarth

There are 240 drug dogs in Prison Service establishments, comprising 51 passive drug dogs and 189 active drug dogs. The list shows the location of the dogs.

Forty prisons do not have full-time access to a drug dog, but there are two area search teams (one based at Maidstone prison comprising six dogs; the others at Swinfen Hall Young Offenders Institution with two dogs) and the National Dog Support Group (comprising 14 dogs) Which are available to give support to these prisons.

The costs for training and maintaining the dogs are:

  • Initial Training passive dog: £3,321
  • Initial Training active dog: £3,000
  • Annual refresher: £1,000

The yearly costs of keeping a dog averages £2,088, depending on veterinary care

Prisons in England and Wales with drug dogs:

  • Acklington
  • Albany1
  • Altcourse1
  • Askham Grange
  • Aylesbury
  • Bedford1
  • Belmarsh
  • Birmingham
  • Blakenhurst1
  • Blundeston
  • Bristol
  • Brixton
  • Buckley Hall
  • Bullingdon1
  • Canterbury
  • Cardiff
  • Castington
  • Channings Wood
  • Chelmsford
  • Coldingley
  • Dartmoor1
  • Deerbolt
  • Doncaster1
  • Downview
  • Durham1
  • Eastwood Park1
  • Everthorpe
  • Exeter
  • Feltham1
  • Foston Hall1
  • Frankland1
  • Full Sutton
  • Garth
  • Gartree
  • Glen Parva
  • Grendon
  • Guys Marsh
  • Haverigg
  • Highdown1
  • Highpoint
  • Hindley
  • Hollesley Bay
  • Holloway
  • Holme House1
  • Hull1
  • Huntercombe
  • Latchmere House
  • Leeds
  • Lewes
  • Lincoln1
  • Littlehey
  • Liverpool1
  • Long Lartin
  • Lowdham Grange
  • Low Newton
  • Maidstone
  • Machester1
  • Moorland
  • New Hall
  • Northallerton
  • Norwich1
  • Parc
  • Parkhurst1
  • Portland
  • Preston1
  • Ranby
  • Reading
  • Risley
  • Send
  • Shepton Mallet
  • Standford Hill1
  • Stocken
  • Stoke Heath
  • Styal
  • Swaleside
  • Swansea
  • The Mount1
  • Thorn Cross
  • Wakefield1
  • Wandsworth
  • Wayland1
  • Wellingborough1
  • Whitemoor1
  • Winchester
  • Wolds1
  • Woodhill
  • Wormwood Scrubs1
  • Wymott
    • Kent Area Search Team1
    • Mercia Area Search Team
    • National Dog Support Group
  • 1Passive drug dog

Note:

Other establishments will have an active drug dog or a dual purpose dog (used for both patrol and drug duties).