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| Bristol Prison: 'Huge and disruptive' legal highs problem | Bristol Prison: 'Huge and disruptive' legal highs problem |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| So-called legal highs are a "huge and disruptive" problem at Bristol Prison, a spokesman for the jail's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) says. | |
| More than 30 ambulances were called in one week to treat inmates who had taken psychoactive substances, the BBC has learnt. | More than 30 ambulances were called in one week to treat inmates who had taken psychoactive substances, the BBC has learnt. |
| The IMB's Graham Bingham said the drugs made prisoners act violently and staff have been attacked. | The IMB's Graham Bingham said the drugs made prisoners act violently and staff have been attacked. |
| The Ministry of Justice said the prison is actively working on the problem. | The Ministry of Justice said the prison is actively working on the problem. |
| Police patrols have also been increased outside in order to prevent drugs from getting in. | Police patrols have also been increased outside in order to prevent drugs from getting in. |
| 'Superhuman strength' | 'Superhuman strength' |
| Mr Bingham said he had personally seen prisoners under the influence of the drugs acting "very violently" when officers attempted to restrain them. | Mr Bingham said he had personally seen prisoners under the influence of the drugs acting "very violently" when officers attempted to restrain them. |
| "They seem to have superhuman strength," he said. "Three or four members of staff are needed to contain them." | "They seem to have superhuman strength," he said. "Three or four members of staff are needed to contain them." |
| Mr Bingham added that in a single day recently there were seven alerts for prisoners to be taken to hospital under escort for treatment after taking the drugs. | Mr Bingham added that in a single day recently there were seven alerts for prisoners to be taken to hospital under escort for treatment after taking the drugs. |
| New psychoactive substances (NPS) such as Spice have been seized in Bristol Prison. | New psychoactive substances (NPS) such as Spice have been seized in Bristol Prison. |
| They are chemically designed to mimic drugs that are already banned. | They are chemically designed to mimic drugs that are already banned. |
| Spice is a synthetic cannabis substitute and is described by some experts as being up to 100 times more potent. | Spice is a synthetic cannabis substitute and is described by some experts as being up to 100 times more potent. |
| The government's Psychoactive Substances Act, which comes into force in April, will place a blanket ban on all legal highs. | The government's Psychoactive Substances Act, which comes into force in April, will place a blanket ban on all legal highs. |
| However, Dr Tim Williams of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said he was concerned the ban could "drive the problem underground". | However, Dr Tim Williams of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said he was concerned the ban could "drive the problem underground". |
| He said a similar bill in Ireland was "initially successful", but "there's actually been an increase in people using Spice-related compounds". | He said a similar bill in Ireland was "initially successful", but "there's actually been an increase in people using Spice-related compounds". |
| Have you been affected by any of the issues in this story? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by any of the issues in this story? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |