Walton prison’s drugs shame

Jul 8 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL prison has the highest number of positive drug-test results across the country for a three year period, according to new figures.

Data obtained by the Conservative Party, through the Freedom of Information Act, , puts HMP Liverpool, in Walton, in the top 10, with 20.25% of all drugs tests carried out returning positive results.

The city comes ahead of second placed Preston with 19.67% and third placed Peterborough (Male) with 19.06%.

The results coincide with the publication of a government report into drugs in prisons, which concludes that “substantial amounts” of all types of drugs got into prisons across the country.

Of 2,445 tests carried out between 2004 and 2007, Liverpool recorded 495 positive results.

Of the region’s other prisons, Altcourse Prison, in Fazakerley, recorded 444 out of 3,495 an average of 12.70% over the three years, Styal Women's prison in Cheshire recorded 172 out of 1,638, a 10.5% average with Risley in Warrington, 231 out of 1,925 and a 12% average.

Between 2004/05 and 2006/07, Liverpool is the only prison to carry out fewer tests each year.

Altcourse, Styal and Risley all increased the amounts of tests.

Despite recording an overall high average figure for a three-year period in Liverpool prison, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson last night said the number of positive drug tests had fallen each year over that time.

He said: “The figures show over the three years in question HMP Liverpool has seen a reduction in positive drug tests of over 50%, from 28% in 2004 to 2005 to 13% in 2007 to 2008.

“Although 13% is above ave-rage and there is room for im-provement, HMP Liverpool has shown a creditable perfor-mance over the three reporting years.”

Alan Brown, Governor at Liverpool, said he could not comment on the figures, but confirmed the mandatory test rate had fallen from 23-30% positive tests to a current 15%.

He said: “We have reduced our positive test rate and the last month’s results were down to 11%, our target for the year is just under 15%.

“We have introduced many measures to reduce the amount of drugs, including replacing all the windows facing Hornby Road.

“They no longer open but are still ventilated, but it means inmates can’t put lines out the window and drag in drugs.

“We have spent £250,000 on measures and these have proved successful. We also tar-get visitors using intelligence.”

A spokesman for Altcourse prison said: “Prisons reflect the outside world and drugs are available in the community despite the tremendous efforts by the authorities.”

laurasharpe