Smoking ban considered for prisons

A ban on smoking
in all areas of
jails in England
and Wales is being
considered by the
Prison Service.
A pilot is expected
to begin next year,
with a ban likely
by 2015.
It is thought the
move is linked to potential legal action by
staff and inmates who have suffered the
effects of passive smoking.
Campaigners warn a ban would be difficult to
implement and could have a destabilising
effect, with an estimated 80% of prisoners
thought to be smokers.
Smokers among the 84,000 inmates at prisons in
England and Wales, where tobacco is used as
currency on the wings, will be offered
nicotine patches as a substitute.
'Harmful effects'
A Prison Service spokesman said: "We are
considering banning smoking across the prison
estate and as part of this are looking at
possible sites as early adopters."
According to a report in the Times newspaper,
prisons in south-west England, including
Exeter and Eastwood Park Women's jail, will be
involved in the pilot in the spring.
Inmates are currently allowed to smoke in
their cells but a ban would prohibit this and
extend to all parts of a prison, including
exercise yards.
Senior prison staff were said to have been
informed of the move in a letter.
"You will no doubt be aware
that the decision has been
made that the time is right
for the prison estate to
adopt a tobacco and smoke-
free policy to provide a
smoke-free workplace/
environment for our staff
and prisoners," the letter,
quoted in the Times, said.
The Prison Officers
Association (POA) union
began campaigning for a
smoking ban in all UK
prisons in 2007.
It had expressed concerns about staff and
prisoners "forced to suffer the harmful
effects of second-hand smoke".
It came after smoking bans were introduced
across the UK designed to protect people from
the effects of second-hand smoke in workplaces
and enclosed public places.
The bans did not apply to prisoners as their
cells were defined as "domestic premises",
although non-smoking prisoners could not be
made to share a cell with a smoker.
POA general secretary Steve Gillan told the
Times the union would work with the Ministry
of Justice to make sure a ban "works
effectively".
'Pressure on jails'
He acknowledged it "could cause disturbances"
but pointed out a ban had successfully been
introduced in young offender institutions in
England and Wales.
Andrew Neilson, from campaign charity the
Howard League for Penal Reform, suggested a
ban would be difficult to enforce.
He told the BBC: "Prisons are going through
unprecedented budget cuts, prison resources,
staff resources have been cut, there may well
be good intentions behind this policy
proposal, but it will undoubtedly put a lot of
pressure on jails which are already pretty
stretched."
He added there could be a damaging effect in
the short term on the mental health of
prisoners "who are often very distressed".
A ban on smoking in workplaces and enclosed
public spaces came into effect in England in
July 2007 following similar legislation in
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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