Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Drug Use in Prisons

Tuesday 8 February 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated that tackling drug use in prisons requires a combination of security measures and rehabilitation programs.
  • Minister emphasized the need for increased security to prevent drugs from entering prisons.
  • Ellie Reeves highlighted a significant rise in prison drug use and violence over the past decade.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Fell
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

The question pertains to recent progress on reducing illegal drug use within the prison system, citing its role in driving acquisitive crime and the need for abstinence-based treatment.

Question

What recent progress has been made on tackling drug use in prisons? Drugs are responsible for about half of all acquisitive crime, burglaries, and robberies in the UK. If we hope to give people who are leaving the prison estate a chance in the future, we have to drive down drug use within that estate. Does the Minister agree that improved security measures and abstinence-based treatment are essential?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

Too often, we imagine there is a silver bullet for dealing with drugs, but we need a suite of tools to attack both demand and supply. Increased security in prisons is critical, ensuring it is very hard for drugs to penetrate the secure estate. We also invest in treatment and rehabilitation, not least as prisoners leave the prison estate. Last year, funding was secured that will ensure everybody who needs a treatment place on exiting a prison will receive one. A new development in this area is the roll-out of depot buprenorphine, an inoculation against heroin and opium addiction.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether he agrees with the need for improved security measures and abstinence-based treatment specifically.

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Q2 Simon Fell
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The question builds on previous discussion about the necessity of improved security and abstinence-based treatment for reducing drug use in prisons, emphasizing its importance for crime prevention.

Question

Drugs are responsible for half of all acquisitive crimes. If we want to give people leaving prison a chance, we must reduce drug use there. Does the Minister agree that increased security measures and abstinence-based treatment are necessary?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

Too often, we imagine there is a silver bullet for dealing with drugs, but we need a suite of tools to attack both demand and supply. Increased security in prisons is critical, ensuring it is very hard for drugs to penetrate the secure estate. We also invest in treatment and rehabilitation, not least as prisoners leave the prison estate. Last year, funding was secured that will ensure everybody who needs a treatment place on exiting a prison will receive one. A new development in this area is the roll-out of depot buprenorphine, an inoculation against heroin and opium addiction.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether he agrees with the need for improved security measures and abstinence-based treatment specifically.

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Q3 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Justice & Courts
Context

The question addresses the alarming increase in drug use, violence, officer departures, and high reoffending rates in prisons since 2016. The MP calls out the Government for failing to address these issues effectively.

Question

Prisons are in crisis: drugs up by 500% over 10 years; violence up more than 100% between 2010 and 2020; almost 12,000 prison officers leaving since 2016. With reoffending rates at a staggering 40%, the Government is failing to keep the public safe. When will they finally address this crisis?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

The hon. Lady gives a partial picture; she should know that current reoffending rates are lower than under Labour, and we continue pushing for reductions. Since 2018Q4, assaults in prisons have been on a downward trend. While there is much more to do, the Government has announced significant investments in drug rehabilitation and treatment both inside and outside prisons.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific timeline for addressing prison conditions or reducing reoffending rates.

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