24 visitors caught smuggling contraband into private jail

MORE than 20 visitors to Addiewell Prison were caught trying to smuggle drugs, mobile phones or sim cards into the jail last year, new figures have shown.

Prison guards caught 12 people with drugs during visits to inmates at the West Lothian jail, a fall on 2009 when 24 would-be smugglers were found.

One person was caught trying to bring in a mobile phone while nine were found with sim cards.

The figures were released in an answer to a parliamentary question by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

At Saughton Prison in Edinburgh, 15 visitors were caught with drugs in 2010. No-one was found trying to bring in mobile phones, sim cards or weapons during the year.

Prison bosses at Saughton launched a neighbourhood watch-style scheme last month to ask members of the public to look out for potential smugglers.

Local residents were urged to report suspicious activity around the facility and help stem the flood of drugs and mobile phones being smuggled inside.

The scheme, which is the first of its kind in Scotland and is being launched in partnership with the police, will see a special hotline set up to allow people to contact the authorities. Smugglers often throw stashes of drugs, phones and other contraband over the prison's boundary walls.

The Prison Watch service is also encouraging visitors to the jail to report any suspected smuggling while attending.