§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the reply of 5 December, Official Report, column 184, how many incidents of attempted drug smuggling into Walton prison there have been over the past three years; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the problems of drug smuggling into Her Majesty's Prisons at the latest date.
§ Mr. MellorWe attach much importance to keeping unauthorised drugs out of prisons and are determined that all appropriate counter-measures should be taken. These include calling in the police to investigate (and, if necessary, carry out a search) where there is reason to believe that a visitor intends to smuggle drugs. At Liverpool prison during 1984 so far (up to 11 December) the police have detected attempts of drug smuggling on 19 occasions and prison officers on nine occasions. No reliable figures are available for earlier years.