Drugs bust revelation at Suffolk jail
DRUGS were found in the possession of inmates at Hollesley Bay Prison on more than 30 occasions in the last four years, it can be revealed today.
DRUGS were found in the possession of inmates at Hollesley Bay Prison on more than 30 occasions in the last four years, it can be revealed today.
The Evening Star has learned that guards at the Suffolk jail have discovered a spectrum of illegal substances since 2004, including heroin, cannabis, steroids and opiates.
The revelation comes only months after David Blakey published a review of measures to disrupt the supply of drugs into prison.
The former chief constable of West Mercia police was commissioned to conduct the review as part of a drive against drugs announced in a prison policy update by justice secretary Jack Straw in January 2008.
His report made ten recommendations, all of which have been accepted by the government.
News of the frequency of drug seizures at Hollesley Bay has come to light following a request made under the Freedom of Information Act.
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Today, the Ministry of Justice claimed “considerable progress” had been made in tackling the supply of drugs in jail in the last decade.
A spokesman said: “The government takes this issue seriously, which is why we accepted all the recommendations in David Blakey's report on Disrupting the Supply of Illicit Drugs into Prisons. Work is already in progress to implement the recommendations.
“Considerable progress has already been made, with drug misuse in prisons as measured by the random mandatory drug testing programme having declined by 63 per cent since 1996/7.
“Measures are in place to prevent the supply of drugs into prison, including searching strategies, mobile phone signal detectors and Body Orifice Security Scanners.”
What do you make of the figures? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
Seizures of drugs at Hollesley Bay Prison:
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total
Adult 6 8 2 3 2 21
Youth 3 0 2 1 4 10
Types of drugs found:
Cannabis (herbal): 39.86g
Cannabis (resin): 312.56g
Heroin: 4.07g
Amphetamines: 63.5 tablets
Morphine: 6.19g
Opiates: 12.25g
Barbiturates: 102.68g
Steroids: 2.5g/5 tablets
Other: six Buscopan tablets
