Home Affairs Committee takes evidence on drugs in prisons
3 July 2012
Home Affairs Committee hears from Ken Clarke and National Offender Management Service about drugs in prison
This is the Home Affairs Select Committee's sixth evidence session in the inquiry into drugs policy. The inquiry, which has received numerous written evidence submissions from organisations and members of the public, is intended to be a comprehensive review of drugs policy.
The first panel will be Richard Bradshaw, Director of Offender Health, and Digby Griffith, Director of National Operational Services, National Offender Management Service. The Committee will question them about initiatives to crack down on drugs being smuggled in to prisons and measures to help offenders tackle their addiction as part of rehabilitation.
The second panel will be the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. The Committee will be raising the issue of the availability of drugs in prison, the future of dedicated drug courts and the importance of helping drug addicts recover whilst in prison.
Witnesses
At approx midday
- Richard Bradshaw, Director of Offender Health,
- Digby Griffith, Director of National Operational Services, National Offender Management Service.
At approx 12.30pm
- Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Committee Chair Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP said:
"Drugs policy stretches over a number of Government departments and the prevalence of drug use in prison has been a worrying trend in recent years. Drug use is related to a number of crimes and unless we treat the addiction of our prisoners, we cannot be surprised that they re-offend.
Combating drug use in prison is vital to ensuring that we end the revolving door of drug-addicted offenders being released to a life where they return to crime to pay for their habit.
The Committee recently visited Pentonville Prison and Brixton Prison to meet prisoners in drug treatment and speak to staff involved in providing that care. We look forward to putting a number of questions raised from these visits to the Lord Chancellor."