450 DRUGS FINDS AT PRISON IN THREE YEARS

NEARLY 450 drugs finds have been discovered in a North-East prison in
the last three years, it has been revealed.

Between November 2004 and 2007, there were 443 incidents in which
drugs - both illegal substances and unlawfully held prescriptions -
were discovered at Holme House Prison, Stockton.

In 2005, there were 191 drug discoveries at Holme House, compared to
98 in 2006 and 142 between January 1 and November 6 last year.

advertisementThe figures, revealed under the Freedom of Information
Act, include all drug discoveries made in the prison - on prisoners,
visitors or in cells.

Recently fears were raised over the growing use of drugs such as
heroin substitute Subutex as a recreational drug in jails.

One 30-year-old former Holme House prisoner, a recovering heroin
addict from Stockton, claimed more than half of inmates used drugs.

He said: "At the moment the main thing is a thing called Subutex. For
one tiny tablet they go for UKP50. People get cut up for them and
slashed for them."

The former inmate, who does not wish to be named, claimed tennis balls
containing drugs would also get thrown over the wall.

Governor of Holme House, Matt Spencer, said his staff used a string of
measures in a bid to banish drugs.

He said: "Stopping drugs coming into Holme House is a constant problem
and we do have systems in place to stop drugs coming in. Quite
obviously, we are not 100 per cent successful in that.

"There are also measures in place to seize and confiscate drugs when
they are found in prison.

"We have a regular system of searching prisoners and their cells.
Prisoners take part in drug tests, both mandatory and voluntary."