Man held after search at prison

Aug 8 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A WORKER was arrested on suspicion of smuggling heroin into Liverpool Prison after a random stop and search by guards.

The contractor was thought to have been found with a quantity of Class A drugs, believed to be heroin.

Guards held the worker until police arrived.

A full investigation was launched by the prison service and police. An HMP Walton spokeswoman said: “A member of contracted staff was excluded from the prison on Wednesday, July 25, following an allegation of drug trafficking.

“Pending the outcome of a police investigation, we have no further comment at this time.”

A Merseyside police spokesman said: “A 22- year-old man from Bootle, a contractor at the prison, was stopped and searched at Walton prison at 9.20am on Wednesday and was found in possession of a block of what is suspec- ted to be heroin. He has been bailed until September 29 while inquiries continue.”

In a recent report, the chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, said the 1,400 capacity prison was failing in its battle against drug problems on its wings.