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News (Media Awareness Project) - UK: Wiltshire Jail Winning War Against Drugs
Title:UK: Wiltshire Jail Winning War Against Drugs
Published On:2009-05-26
Source:Wiltshire Times (UK)
Fetched On:2009-05-26 15:37:16
WILTSHIRE JAIL WINNING WAR AGAINST DRUGS

Erlestoke Prison is winning its battle against drugs, according to a
report published by the prison's independent monitoring board.

It is the most encouraging vote of confidence prison authorities have
had from the local volunteer monitors for some years as serious
situations like drugs, challenging behaviour and poor conditions have
been successfully addressed.

Prison governor Andy Rogers welcomed the report, published last
Thursday, and said that he was determined to make Erlestoke Prison
drug free. He said: "We tested a third more prisoners than in the
previous year and the number of positive tests was much lower.

"I won't tolerate drugs in my prison and it will be drug free as soon
as is possible. So far this month we have had no positive tests at
all and I hope that is going to continue."

Prisoners can be very cunning about smuggling drugs and mobile phones
- - with which drugs are ordered - into the prison. The prison recently
acquired a second drugs sniffer dog and the amount of seizures of
drugs increased. The prison recently took delivery of a BOSS chair -
bodily orifice security system - in which prisoners are sat down and
a high intensity metal detector finds if they are carrying a mobile
phone inside them.

Drugs are often smuggled in by post in greetings cards, where the
front of the card is cut away and drugs secreted behind it, or made
into a paste and smeared over the back of the card. The sniffer dogs
are let loose on all mail delivered to the prison each day.

The prison's training regime also came in for praise. The prison was
graded as "good" by the education watchdog Ofsted, the second highest
category, in a recent inspection. More than 50 per cent of all
prisoners in British jails can barely read and write but Erlestoke
has a good record of adult literacy training.

There was also good news for the monitoring board regarding the much
criticised Wren Unit. This 1960s building has been very dilapidated
in recent years and has created a very bad impression with new
arrivals who had traditionally been received there.

Staff and prisoners have together redecorated it and there are now
firm plans to demolish and rebuild it. It has been put out to tender
with a number of local firms.

Simon Petchey, who is standing down as chairman of the monitoring
board, was fulsome in his praise of governors and staff. He said:
"The board commends the commitment, professionalism and dedication of
the two governors (Mr Rogers and his predecessor Doug Moon) in
charge of the prison during the year, their management team and all
their staff.

"They initially managed to maintain a generally humane and
progressive environment despite severe financial constraints, and
latterly have started to take the prison forward with new energy and
vision."
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