Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jan 2008
Source: Watford Observer (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Newsquest Media Group
Contact:  http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4605

DRUG FINDS IN JAIL INCREASE

A number of visitors were caught trying to smuggle drugs into the 
Mount Prison at Bovingdon and on six occasions drugs were thrown over 
the perimeter fence during the festivie period, it has energed.

Spokesman for the category C prison in Molyneaux Avenue, David 
Robinson, said: "It is no big secret that there is a big problem with 
drugs in jail, so every prison is a target.

"Abuse of drugs by the prisoners causes a lot of problems for them 
personally and the prison, and is something that we are guarding 
against all the time.

"We are taking very strenuous measures to make sure the drugs do not 
get in but it's no secret that people do come up to the prison and 
throw packages over the fence.

"We are very vigilant and the fact that we have caught them is a 
success, there have been some visitors who have been intercepted with 
drugs around Christmas."

David added: "We have taken extra measures to deter people from going 
around the site's perimeter and are increasing our anti-drugs 
measures all the time.

"We are acting very positively to combat drugs coming into the jail."

The Mount has writtten to Bovingdon Parish Council asking that 
residents refrain from using the strip of grass around the perimeter 
fence, to assist their monitoring of the area.

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesperson said: "It is an ongoing 
thing and we work very closely with our partners at The Mount to 
constantly monitor and tackle the problem.

"The prison constantly carries out targeted operations and the six 
arrests made within a month is a good success." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake