Number of prison drug finds set to fall again

PRISON bosses believe they are winning the war on drugs, as early indications suggest the number of finds will fall again this year.

New figures released by the Scottish Parliament show there have been 1,276 drug busts in jails in the first nine months of 2011.

That is proportionately lower than the 1,787 for the whole of 2010, and 1,865 in 2009.

Tackling the flow of drugs has been a priority for staff after it was highlighted by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Prisons, Brigadier Hugh Monro, in his annual report last year.

Neighbours of HMP Edinburgh have been urged to report suspicious activity as part of a pilot initiative Prisonwatch.

And the number of intelligence officers placed inside prisons has increased as the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency looks to stop crimelords carrying on orchestrating drug deals from behind bars.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Prison Service said: “The SPS is committed to tackling the long-standing problem of drugs and other contraband being introduced into our prisons.

“Recently published statistics show a reduction in the number of drugs found across the estate, and that is testament to the professionalism and vigilance of our staff.

“SPS has taken steps to address this issue by better use of intelligence, closer working with police, maximising technology, and the employment of new initiatives, such as Prisonwatch at HMP Edinburgh.

“The early stages of Prisonwatch have seen a 76 per cent reduction in the number of illicit items found within the establishment.”

Private prison Addiewell has had the most drug busts this year, with 212, followed by Edinburgh on 162, Barlinnie on 160, and Kilmarnock on 159.