Pubdate: Wed, 29 Dec 2004
Source: Liverpool Daily Post (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Liverpool Daily Post
Contact:  http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3205
Author: Clare Usher, Daily Post Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

DRUGS WORTH UKP 150,000 THROWN OVER JAIL WALL

THE security chief of Liverpool Prison last night spoke of his
determination to put a stop to the growing problem of drug smuggling
to inmates.

Governor Mick Blick, head of prison security and operations, laid bare
the extent of the scourge of drugs in the region's biggest jail in an
interview with the Daily Post.

He said smuggling had reached such epidemic proportions that UKP 150,000
of narcotics has been seized by guards in the last six months after it
was thrown over the prison's perimeter walls.

Mr Blick told of his grave concerns - which are shared by government
officials and prison bosses across the country - and pledged a
crackdown as the problem threatened to get out of control.

It has emerged that associates of inmates have even begun shooting
crossbow bolts over the walls with contraband, mobile phones and drugs
attached.

Mr Blick said: "This is extremely dangerous and it is only a matter of
time before someone gets seriously hurt doing this. It's
frightening.

"The arrow comes over attached to a line, then the prisoner on the
inside pulls the contraband that is attached to the line, over the
wall.

"We estimate that, over the last six to eight months, about UKP 150,000
of drugs have been thrown over. But you multiply that by about three
because drugs are more expensive in prison because they are more
difficult to get hold of.

"And some people are paying up to UKP 500 for a single mobile
phone.

"Prisoners have warnings posted up as to what is acceptable but do
they read them?"

Apart from arranging drops for the narcotics, there is great concern
that mobile phones may be used to intimidate witnesses in forthcoming
trials.

Mr Blick added: "The mobiles are just as much a problem as the drugs
because they can be use to arrange pick-ups but also for witness
intimidation.

"It's hard to gauge about how many witnesses have been intimidated, if
any, because they are not likely to report it for fear of
retribution.

"I think this is a problem in every prison in the country but here we
have increased the inner wall patrols with many more staff out there.

"I don't think we can stop it completely."
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MAP posted-by: Derek