Corrections is often confronted by prisoners who are determined to use drugs, and their associates who are determined to supply them.
The phone line - 0800 JAILSAFE (0800 524 572) - set up in 2000 to enable information on prison matters to be confidentially passed to Corrections, increases prison safety by alleviating some of the pressure that is often placed on prisoners, staff and their families to deliver these drugs.
National Crime Prevention Co-ordinator Tony Coyle says that the number of calls received by Corrections averages between 60-70 each month.
“The bulk of calls received are from prisoners’ family members and other visitors concerned for the welfare of the prisoner they are visiting,” says Tony.
“The calls are taken by Corrections and then referred back to Prison Managers or Crime Prevention staff.”
Other methods employed by Corrections to reduce the supply and demand for drugs in prison and associated crime include searches, vehicle checkpoints, intelligence gathering, liaison with the Police, rehabilitation programmes targeting alcohol and drug use and the use of drug detection dogs.
Drug detection dog teams are regularly used at visitor check points and for random searches of prison buildings and land. Prisoners are also randomly drug tested. Corrections also continually reviews and improves security measures and has resulted in construction of perimeter fences around prisons and the installation of closed circuit television cameras in visiting areas.
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ISSN 1178-8453