ARREST OF OFFICER A 'CREDIT' TO PRISON

Justice Minister Praises Woodhill for Weeding Out Drugs Supplier

The successful arrest of a prison officer charged with supplying
drugs to inmates is a 'credit' to Woodhill, the Minister for Prisons has said.

Justice Minister David Hanson commented on the arrest during his high
profile visit last week to look at Woodhill's security measures to
prevent drugs entering the prison.

Justice Minister David Hanson talks to prisoners during his Woodhill
visit"The fact the police have made an arrest and have had
co-operation from the prison serves as a credit to the staff at
Woodhill," he said. "It shows we will not rest in the challenge to
reduce drug supplies and that if there are staff that are involved in
any illegal activity we will pursue this with vigour."

Prison officer Adam Seamark, 25, who we understand is from Ruskin
Way, Daventry, Northamptonshire was arrested at the prison on
Tattenhoe Street on Thursday (December 13), less than a week before
the minister's visit.

He has been charged with four counts of supplying controlled drugs,
heroin, crack cocaine and anebolic steroids and misconduct in a
public office between August 1 and December 13, 2007.

The governor of Woodhill has since declared war on drugs inside the
jail saying: "I want to make it very clear to prisoners and to staff
that drugs are not and will not be tolerated within this prison.

"Any attempt to compromise me, or any member of my staff, will be
firmly and decisively dealt with." The minister's visit to Woodhill
was prompted by the high security jail's good track record in keeping
drugs and mobile phones out of the hands of its 800 prisoners.

Mr Hanson praised Woodhill's security measures and its efforts to
help prisoners beat their addiction to drugs in order to reduce reoffending.

He said: "We are here to look at good practice and how we could build
this up in other prisons," Mr Hanson added. It is important we look
at what is working well."

During his visit Mr Hanson was shown the prison's BOSS chair - or
body orifice security scanner system - which is used when prisoners
enter the jail to detect metallic objects such as mobile phones or
knives secreted about their person.

Mr Hanson also saw the First Night Centre, where inmates are
introduced to prison life, heard about the jail's efforts to educate
prisoners about drugs and provide support and counselling to help
them beat their addiction and was given a demonstration from a
sniffer dog which is used to search cells and other areas.

Mr Seamark appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court on Thursday December 21.
He has been remanded in custody to l appear again in February.