Alcohol counselling for remand prisoners

A NEW drive to tackle alcohol abuse among prisoners will see counsellors continue treatment after inmates have been released back into the community.

HMP Edinburgh and HMP Addiewell in West Lothian will hire four full-time specialists to give one-to-one treatment as part of the £150,000 project by NHS Lothian.

The scheme, starting in April, will focus on remand prisoners who are awaiting court hearings linked to alcohol-fuelled crimes.