2:23pm Monday 15th January 2007
By Cameron Clarke
A PRISON once named as the second worst in the country for levels of drug use among inmates has seen a dramatic turnaround.
In the six months leading up to November, 2005, 27.2 per cent of drugs tests at Forest Bank prison were positive, with only Brixton Prison having a worse record.
But new figures show that drug use in the prison has rapidly declined since the prison management introduced new measures.
Between November, 2005 and November, 2006, only 7.92 per cent of tests indicated drug use by prisoners - below the national average of 8.9 per cent. Police also made 25 arrests in connection with people trying to smuggle drugs into the prison during the same period.
Forest Bank houses hundreds of male prisoners from the Bolton area.
It is run by UK Detention Services (UKDS). A spokesman for the prison said they had worked alongside police to bring about the change. "Proactive and positive relationships were established, especially in support and information sharing and the searching of visitors," he said.
Drugs have been a big problem at Forest Bank in recent years.
The extent of the problem was highlighted at the beginning of last year by The Bolton News in an interview with an inmate who said there was "a drugs epidemic in every wing of the prison".
He also said wraps of heroin were fired over walls by people using crossbows.
His claims were borne out by Home Office figures. In August, 2005, alone a shocking 44 per cent of tests indicated drug use by inmates.
The issue was brought to the attention of Bolton MP Dr Brian Iddon who said that management "had to try harder".
The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers said that there was a "culture of tolerance" which put both staff and prisoners at risk at Forest Bank.
Since then, however, the prison has tackled the problem through a number of ways.
Vertical netting was fitted to the prisons exercise yards to prevent drugs being thrown or fired in.
Staff have also received additional training and stepped up searches of visitors and inmates.
Dr Iddon praised the turnaround saying: "If those figures are accurate and can be maintained then I'm delighted, but it will be difficult".
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