Pubdate: Wed, 30 May 2007
Source: Belfast Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/42
Author: Deborah Mcaleese
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

SCANDAL OF FAILED PRISON DRUG TESTS

Call For Action After 2,000 Positive Results In Two Years

Prisoners in Northern Ireland jails have failed drug  tests almost 
2,000 times in just two years, the Belfast  Telegraph can reveal today.

Shock new figures show that the number of positive  tests for illegal 
substances on inmates at Maghaberry,  Magilligan and Hydebank prisons 
has soared over the  past five years.

The news has sparked urgent calls for additional  resources to stamp 
out drug smuggling into the jails by  visitors.

According to the statistics, which were released to  North Down MP 
Lady Sylvia Hermon by Security Minister  Paul Goggins, 15% (692) of 
drug tests carried out on  prisoners last year were positive. In 
2005, almost 25%  (1,250) showed the presence of illegal substances.

In comparison, in 2002, 7% (216) of tests were returned  as positive.

High-security Maghaberry Prison has had the largest  percentage of 
positive drugs tests of all three  establishments.

In each year over the past three years almost one in  three tests at 
Maghaberry showed the presence of  illegal drugs.

While the Young Offenders Centre and female jail at  Hydebank has the 
least number of inmates it returned  the highest number of positive 
drug tests for three out  of five years.

In 2005 alone, 704 tests at Hydebank - 27% of 2,603  tests carried 
out - came back positive. However, last  year that number dropped 
significantly to 134 - 8% of  the total number of tests.

As the Northern Ireland Prison Service does not have a  full 
programme of mandatory drug testing the figures  are based on 
voluntary tests. Prisoners are encouraged  to take drug tests in 
return for privileges.

"I am extremely concerned by these figures as they  clearly 
demonstrate persistent abuse and misuse inside  our prisons," said Lady Hermon.

She added: "Although the detected level of drugs abuse  at Hydebank 
had significantly reduced between 2005 and  2006, the same certainly 
cannot be said of Maghaberry  where around one in three tests proved 
positive during  the same period.

"This cannot be tolerated. Additional resources for  drugs searching 
of prison visitors must be provided  urgently."

Minister Goggins said that the Prison Service is  planning to change 
prison rules to enable mandatory  drug testing.

A spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service  pointed out 
that the figures show the percentage of  positive results has fallen 
from 2005 to 2006.

She added: "The Prison Service has a clear  responsibility to target 
its resources to do what it  can to prevent the misery and hardship 
experienced by  prisoners and their families associated with drug and 
alcohol abuse and addiction. This is clearly stated in  the NIPS 
policy on Drug and Substance Misuse published  last summer."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman