Goldie calls for mandatory drug testing in Scotland's jails

Scottish Conservatives are calling for mandatory drug testing in Scotland's jails.

Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:

"Scottish Conservatives have consistently called for mandatory drug testing in our jails. When you consider that there is a drug bust in a Scottish jail every five hours, and that the Scottish Prison Service does not keep records of the type of drug found, something clearly has to be done.

"Put simply, all prisoners should be subjected to a drugs test upon their arrival in jail. This testing must be comprehensive, robust and consistent. A Scottish Conservative poll commissioned by YouGov showed that 91% of Scots supported this call.

"We should be helping prisoners get off drugs, rather than providing an environment for drugs to flourish. We must work harder to help addicts recover and send them on the path to abstinence.

"That is why we must have drug free wings in every institution where prisoners who want to come off drugs can be removed from the availability and the temptation of drugs. If they stay clean they should be given privileges. If they test positive, then they are removed from the drugs free wing and the privileges are withdrawn. The sanction for anyone in an open prison testing positive should be return to a closed jail.

"Robust measures must also be applied to anyone supplying drugs to prisoners. Visiting privileges should be withdrawn and in persistent cases criminal charges brought. We would also consider prison visits taking place behind glass screens to ensure that there is no contact between prisoners and their visitors and therefore deny them the opportunity of passing over drugs.

"The benefits to society will be great if we find the political will to take this task on. Lower re-offending, less crime and a safer prison environment. It will be good for addicts, good for their families and good for society as a whole because so much crime in Scotland is fuelled by drugs."

A YouGov poll commissioned by the Scottish Conservatives asked the following question:

Do you think prisoners should or should not be subject to mandatory drug testing while they are in prison?

Should 91

Should Not 4

Don't Know 5

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