SUPREMO TO PURGE JAILS OF DEALERS AND ADDICTS

A DRUGS supremo is to be appointed to try to rid Scotland's jails of
dealers and addicts as part of a new zero tolerance drive against drug
barons, writes James Murray.

Home Affairs Minister Henry McLeish will announce the move tomorrow when he
sees the latest anti-drugs measures being tested at high-security Shotts
prison, neat Airdrie.

The new appointee will be responsible for introducing tougher policies in
the country's 22 prisons. It is the first time such a role has been created
in the UK. At least 1,500 of Scotland's 6,000 prisoners are thought to be
regular drug users, with many taking heroin. Criminals are also running
major drugs cartels from behind bars in some jails.

McLeish said: "Prisoners' families are being threatened and, in some cases,
blackmailed to take drugs into prisons. It is vital we act now to crack
down hard on the abuses."

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski