Pubdate: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 Source: Manchester Evening News (UK) Copyright: 2004 Manchester Evening News Contact: http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1313 Author: Blaise Tapp DRUGS CULTURE TOLL AT LOCAL PRISONS THE rate of positive drug tests on prisoners in Greater Manchester was well above the national average last year. Four of the five Prison Service institutions in the area were over the national average of 12.3 per cent of inmates testing positive for drugs. Only Rochdale's Buckley Hall jail was lower, with a figure of 5.3 per cent, says the Prison Service's annual report. At Thorn Cross young offenders' institution in Warrington, 18.6 per cent of inmates tested positive. The figure for Manchester prison was 18.5 per cent, and 17.7 per cent at Styal women's prison. At Hindley young offenders' institution near Wigan, 14.1 per cent of drug tests were positive. Inmates at Thorn Cross committed the highest number of serious prison assaults in the region. Attacks at Manchester prison were also over the national average. Three inmates killed themselves at Styal and two at Manchester. The annual report, which scrutinises prisons and young offenders' institutions in England and Wales, shows that staff at Hindley each took an average of more than 25 days off sick, while Styal and Buckley Hall averaged 17, Manchester 16 and Thorn Cross 14. It costs nearly UKP 39,000 to keep an inmate at Thorn Cross, UKP 37,000 at Hindley, UKP 31,500 at Styal, UKP 29,000 at Buckley Hall and nearly UKP 23,000 at Manchester. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake