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Crackdown on drugs use in prisons Crackdown on drugs use in prisons
(about 8 hours later)
Sniffer dogs will be used as part of a government crackdown on drug dealing inside Northern Ireland's prisons.Sniffer dogs will be used as part of a government crackdown on drug dealing inside Northern Ireland's prisons.
Prisons' Minister Paul Goggins said a series of robust new measures would be introduced to help stem the flow of drugs within the prison system.Prisons' Minister Paul Goggins said a series of robust new measures would be introduced to help stem the flow of drugs within the prison system.
Mr Goggins made the announcement at the publication of a prison service report which makes 38 recommendations.Mr Goggins made the announcement at the publication of a prison service report which makes 38 recommendations.
These include mandatory drugs and alcohol tests and increased searches of prisoners leaving visiting areas.These include mandatory drugs and alcohol tests and increased searches of prisoners leaving visiting areas.
"I am concerned about the increased availability of drugs in prisons in recent years," he said."I am concerned about the increased availability of drugs in prisons in recent years," he said.
"The recommendations contained in this report will enable the Prison Service to strengthen search procedures and reduce the amounts being smuggled in."The recommendations contained in this report will enable the Prison Service to strengthen search procedures and reduce the amounts being smuggled in.
"The drugs problem in prisons is a reflection of what is happening in the wider community, where there is increased demand and more readily available supplies of illicit substances.""The drugs problem in prisons is a reflection of what is happening in the wider community, where there is increased demand and more readily available supplies of illicit substances."
The report also recommended that prisoners who use mobile telephones to organise drug deals should have their signal blocked.The report also recommended that prisoners who use mobile telephones to organise drug deals should have their signal blocked.
However, it added that legal advice would have to be sought before mobile phone signal blockers were introduced into prisons.However, it added that legal advice would have to be sought before mobile phone signal blockers were introduced into prisons.
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Prison officers found about £10,000 of cannabis last year