Mentions:
1: Derek Twigg (Lab - Halton) The problem of course is that in too many prisons there is a high incidence of drugs getting in, so what - Speech Link
2: Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) Member is right: it is of course really important that we tackle drugs coming into prisons. - Speech Link
3: Edward Argar (Con - Charnwood) We have the £100 million security measures to tackle illicit drugs and mobile phones—the sorts of things - Speech Link
4: Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) resolved in the magistrates court, which includes burglaries, thefts, assaults, criminal damage and drugs - Speech Link

Found: HL Bill 57 Inspections by criminal justice inspectorates 19 His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons

Mar. 22 2024

Found: Prisons 25by25.

Mar. 21 2024

Found: 34 Violence against the person: 13 Sexual offence: 12 Misconduct in a Public office: 7 Corruption: 3 Drugs

Mentions:
1: Neil Hudson (Con - Penrith and The Border) disease-resistant crops, as well as disease-resistant animals and birds, which will reduce the need for drugs - Speech Link
2: Daniel Zeichner (Lab - Cambridge) report about using the Government’s purchasing power to ensure that more food in our hospitals and prisons - Speech Link

Offenders: Drugs

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help ensure the rehabilitation of offenders with a history of substance abuse.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We know that substance misuse drives reoffending, and are committed to supporting offenders to overcome addictions and turn their lives around. Our landmark Drugs Strategy sets out the ambitious cross-government 10-year plan to address illegal drug use, underpinned by record additional investment – as part of which, the Ministry of Justice is supporting offenders at every stage of the criminal justice system into recovery.

In prison we have dramatically increased the number of incentivised substance-free living (ISFL) units, where prisoners commit to living drug-free with incentives and regular testing. Over 70 prisons now have an ISFL, up from 25 in summer 2022. To ensure prison leavers maintain their progress in treatment, we have recruited Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators nationwide to improve links between prison and community treatment services.

We are also supporting the rehabilitation of offenders with substance misuse needs in the community. We have increased probation’s drug testing capacity and we are piloting Intensive Supervision Courts (ISCs), to divert offenders with substance misuse and complex needs away from short custodial sentences into enhanced community-based sentences. ISCs aim to tackle the root cause of offending behaviour through robust supervision and interventions, frequent and random drug testing, and regular reviews with a single judge.

Wandsworth Prison: Drugs

Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the positive rate for random mandatory drug tests carried out at HMP Wandsworth was in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The latest period for which random mandatory drug tests (rMDT) data is available is the year April 2022 to March 2023 (2022-2023). 18% of random mandatory drug tests (rMDT) in Wandsworth were positive for either traditional or psychoactive drugs throughout 2022-23.

We are doing more to tackle the supply of drugs in prisons. Our £100m Security Investment Programme completed in March 2022 and delivered 75 additional X-ray body scanners, supplying full coverage across the closed male estate. We have also installed 84 X-ray baggage scanners at 49 sites, drug detection machines and metal detection archways. Furthermore, we are taking steps to support individuals with substance misuse issues in prison. We have dramatically increased the number of incentivised substance-free living units, where prisoners commit to living drug-free with incentives and regular testing. Over 70 prisons now have an ISFL, up from 25 in summer 2022.