Drug finds in Scottish prisons average five a day

The number of drugs found in Scottish prisons is on the increase, with an average five drug finds a day across the country.

• There are on average five drug finds per day in Scottish prisons.

• Three Scottish prisons have had more drug finds so far this year than in the whole of 2011.

• Conservative chief whip accuses SNP of failing to crack down on the problem

The number of drugs found in Scottish prisons is on the increase, with an average five finds a day across the country.

So far this year, prison officers have found illegal substances on 1,332 occasions. Addiewell Prison in West Lothian, which opened just four years ago, recorded the highest number of finds – 339 to the end of September, 42 more than for the whole of last year.

Three other prisons – Low Moss, Peterhead and Shotts – have also already had more drug finds this year than in all of 2011.

There were calls yesterday for new measures to prevent drugs such as marijuana, amphetamines and heroin being smuggled into cells.

Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont, who obtained the figures from a parliamentary question, said: “The public will be absolutely mystified by just how so many drugs can get into what is supposed to be a highly secure setting.

“For five finds a day to be occurring is beyond ridiculous – and those are the ones that are discovered.”

A Scottish Prison Service (SPS) spokesman said: “Drug misuse is a problem across society and it is well known that those involved will go to extreme lengths and considerable personal risk to attempt to introduce drugs into prisons.

“The SPS has worked with partners to improve intelligence-gathering and invested in resources to detect or deter drugs in prison.”