Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce drug use in HMP Cardiff.

HMPPS is committed to reducing the supply and demand of drugs in prisons, delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system, and reducing the harms drugs cause, including working closely with the privately managed HMP/YOI Parc. The following steps are being taken to help reduce drug use in prisons in Wales:

Restricting the supply of drugs:

• Increasing investments in prison security, including introducing airport-style gate security to identify items such as drugs before they are conveyed into prisons as well as X-ray body scanners to find internally concealed items and x-ray baggage.

• Increasing the number of drug trace detection machines, helping prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs, including through the mail.

• Increasing the number and availability of specialist staff, drugs dogs and security equipment to help identify illicit substances at the first possible opportunity available across all sites.

• Mandatory Drug tests in line with national guidance.

• A Crime in Prisons initiative to support the prosecution of those involved in the trafficking of illicit substances.

• Preventing and pursuing incidents of staff corruption.

Reducing the demand for drugs:

• Increasing opportunity for purposeful activities in prison to reduce boredom and in turn the temptation to engage in illicit substances through education and employment.

• Providing opportunities for prisoners to rehabilitate and resettle positively on release through meaningful employment, appropriate housing, mental health support.

Building recovery and reducing harm from drugs:

• Providing opportunities for individuals to engage in Psychosocial Interventions to reduce substance misuse.

• Providing all suitable individuals with appropriate clinical interventions for substance misuse. In Wales, this includes Buvidal which is a long-acting buprenorphine to treat dependence on opioids.

• Providing Naloxone upon release, alongside associated training, to help prevent accidental overdose incidents.

• Providing harm reduction advice about safer substance use and preventing blood borne viruses.

• Providing individuals in all Welsh prisons with the opportunity to live on an incentivised substance-free living wing designed to support people to lead a substance-free life.

• Exploring options for opening a drug recovery wing in HMP Berwyn to support those misusing opiates to abstain from drugs. Two drug recovery units have already been established at HMP/YOI Parc.

• Providing 24/7 support to prisoners via peer mentors and staff.

• Providing continuity of care through the gate care via collaborative working with agencies such as Dyfodol, NHS and Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.