DRUGS CULTURE TOLL AT LOCAL PRISONS

THE rate of positive drug tests on prisoners in Greater Manchester was
well above the national average last year.

Four of the five Prison Service institutions in the area were over the
national average of 12.3 per cent of inmates testing positive for drugs.

Only Rochdale's Buckley Hall jail was lower, with a figure of 5.3 per
cent, says the Prison Service's annual report.

At Thorn Cross young offenders' institution in Warrington, 18.6 per
cent of inmates tested positive.

The figure for Manchester prison was 18.5 per cent, and 17.7 per cent
at Styal women's prison.

At Hindley young offenders' institution near Wigan, 14.1 per cent of
drug tests were positive.

Inmates at Thorn Cross committed the highest number of serious prison
assaults in the region. Attacks at Manchester prison were also over
the national average.

Three inmates killed themselves at Styal and two at
Manchester.

The annual report, which scrutinises prisons and young offenders'
institutions in England and Wales, shows that staff at Hindley each
took an average of more than 25 days off sick, while Styal and Buckley
Hall averaged 17, Manchester 16 and Thorn Cross 14.

It costs nearly UKP 39,000 to keep an inmate at Thorn Cross, UKP
37,000 at Hindley, UKP 31,500 at Styal, UKP 29,000 at Buckley Hall and
nearly UKP 23,000 at Manchester.