NHS aims to create a ‘smoke-free’ HMP Barlinnie

HEALTH experts want to eliminate smoking in one of Scotland’s most notorious, all-male prisons.

Smoking is already banned in all areas of Scotlands prisons, with the exception of lags own cells, since legislation was introduced in 2006. Picture: Robert Perry

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) says it wants to “develop a co-ordinated plan based on current evidence [and] staff and prisoner consultation to move to a smoke-free HMP Barlinnie” over the next three years.

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It admits it is powerless to “withdraw smoking at Barlinnie Prison in the foreseeable future” - but hopes to “aspire” to the target.

Smoking is already banned in all areas of Scotland’s prisons, with the exception of inmate’s own cells, since legislation was introduced in 2006.

The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, which prohibited it in licensed premises and other workplaces, lists cells as private residences, meaning they are exempt from the ban.

The plan - dubbed “snout out” by inmates after the prison slang for tobacco - comes as part of a new strategy by NHSGGC and Glasgow City Council.

The strategy will “focus the majority of actions on activity which targets the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in Glasgow”.

One source said: “This is very much an aspirational thing and not something that will happen overnight.

“It is not about banning smoking in Barlinnie or any prison and will take considerable time to achieve. We also have to balance this with prisoners’ rights. If you are in a hotel and want to smoke you can go outside.

“Clearly, that can’t be done if you are in a prison.”

The source also played down the prospect for disorder, adding: “There were predictions this would be the case after the 2006 ban but that did not happen.”

According to a report on the strategy, in 2012 37 per cent of adults in the most deprived areas of Glasgow smoked against 19 per cent in the rest of the city.

But it is estimated that within the prison population the number of smokers could be higher than 75 per cent.

It is also estimated that smoking causes the deaths of about 13,000 people a year in Scotland, about a quarter of all deaths.

Tobacco continues to be the biggest single preventable cause of disease and premature death in Glasgow.

A health board spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government Tobacco Control Strategy sets out a number of targets.

“One of the targets is for local boards and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to have plans in place that set out how indoor smoke-free prison facilities will be developed.

“NHSGGC is working in partnership with SPS towards developing clear plans by 2015.

“This plan should be agreed by 2015 when work will begin to consult with SPS, prisoners and partner organisations.”

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