The Five Demands

A distanza di pochi giorni dalla ‘bocciatura‘ inflitta alla prigione di Maghaberry, le autorità carcerarie hanno reso noto ieri l’introduzione del test obbligatorio contro l’abuso di droghe ed alcool.
I prigionieri che dovessere risultare positivi potrebbero vedersi slittare in avanti la  data inizialmente stabilita per il loro rilascio.
Il test è obbligatorio è solo una della serie di riforme che darà il potere al Police Ombudsman di esaminare le denunce da parte dei visitatori del carcere.
Robin Masefield, direttore del Northern Ireland Prison Service, ha affermato che in questo modosi contribuirà a mantenere l’ordine nelle carceri. “L’introduzione di una norma che consenta il test obbligatorio per le droghe e l’alcool, ci aiuterà nel nostro impegno per ridurre al minimo gli effetti dannosi delle sostanze stupefacenti tra la popolazione carceraria”.

Prisoners facing forced drug tests (U Tv)
Inmates in Northern Ireland jails are to face compulsory drug and alcohol tests, prison authorities revealed on Friday.
And the new powers could see prisoners caught abusing drink and drugs being kept behind bars for longer.
The compulsory testing is one of a range of reforms which will also give the Prisoner Ombudsman the power to investigate complaints from visitors to prison.
Only days after prison bosses were criticised over the handling of inmates at risk of suicide, a further rule change will affect the management of prisoners at risk of self harm.
Director of the Northern Ireland Prison Service Robin Masefield said the changes would help maintain order in jails.
“The draft amendments to Prison Rules reflect changing circumstances facing the Service and will make a positive contribution to the development of positive regimes for prisoners,” he said.
“The introduction of a rule allowing for compulsory testing for drugs and alcohol will help us in our efforts to minimise the damaging effects of substance abuse among the prison population.
“It will also have implications for prisoners sentenced under the new public protection framework, particularly those who have received indeterminate or extended custodial sentences.
“Under the new sentencing system prisoners will have to demonstrate that they have genuinely addressed their offending behaviour.
“The results of drugs and alcohol tests are likely to be a factor in whether they are considered for release.”
Earlier this week a damning inspection report found that the lives of vulnerable inmates are being put at risk due to failing safety conditions inside the high security Maghaberry prison.
An unannounced inspection was carried out at HMP Maghaberry six months after a convicted murderer on 24-hour suicide watch was able to hang himself. It discovered that prisoners at threat of self harming still weren’t being monitored properly.
As well as not meeting accepted safety standards, the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland said the prison also failed to pass the other three internationally-recognised tests for inmate welfare – respect, purposeful activity and resettlement.
On Friday, the NIPS said that the draft amendments to Prison Rules, which are published on the organisation’s website, will be subject to a public consultation period of 12 weeks.