PRISONERS 'SHOULD SIGN DRUG CONTRACT'

Inmates at an open prison should be subjected to tougher drug tests,
according to Scotland's chief inspector of prisons.

Clive Fairweather said the use of illegal substances had reached
"unacceptable levels" at Castle Huntly in Perthshire.

He believes prisoners should sign a contract promising not to take drugs at
the prison - and should then be subject to regular tests.

And Mr Fairweather told BBC Scotland that those caught breaking their
contract should be sent back to a closed jail.

He was publishing a report on Wednesday following an inspection at the
prison, which holds 151 category D offenders who are not considered to be a
danger to the public.

He said the prison had made "considerable progress" - but that a lot of
inmates were still taking drugs.

Calling for more testing to be carried out, he said he wanted weekly checks
on the 10% of inmates who are already subject to tests.

Mr Fairweather said staff at the jail, where 76 inmates were returned to
closed prisons last year for drug offences, were working hard.

But he stressed: "We can't be releasing people into the community with this
sort of problem, especially when the tax payer is funding something which
costs more than the highest costing public school in Scotland.

"That leads to more crime because they go back to funding their habit.

"They need to stop taking drugs and that is a message for them and their
families."

He said those being transferred to Castle Huntly should be asked to sign a
contract promising not to take drugs at the jail.

"We believe they should be signing a contract before they go to open prison
because they get many privileges there and, having signed that contract,
they should be tested frequently.

"If they are caught with drugs, they go back to closed conditions."

He said that some inmates had blamed boredom for their drug-taking and
admitted that there had not been enough for them to do when inspectors paid
their visit.

Work Opportunities

But he added: "I am glad to say that the prison service has got that right.

"I'll tell you, if they're bored, I wouldn't mind a week up in Castle Huntly."

His report praised the progress made at the prison when it came to
preparing inmates for release.

"We found that arrangements for work experience outside the prison were as
innovative as any in Scotland," he said.

"Most prisoners were relishing the various work opportunities and finding
that many could be relevant to their later needs.

"Employers we spoke to seem equally satisfied, while we thought supervision
by the prison was probably the best we have seen."