Durham prison facing drug problems with one in three inmates abusing drugs

The prison in Durham is mired under drugs problems with as many as one in three prisoners testing positive in drug tests, inspectors have said. In a random test conducted on the prisoners, of HMP Durham, in between February and June of 2011, 33.3% of the prisoners were found to have drug traces. A vote of a quarter of all inmates too found that 13% of the prisoners had developed drug related problems after coming into the prison. HM chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, said progress is being made but there was still much to do.rnBullying in the prison was main fallout due to the availability of drugs in the prison and all efforts to check the demand for drugs had a very weak response with the drug treatment service ‘poorly staffed’ and lacking leadership.rnMr Hardwick said: "HMP Durham therefore presents a mixed picture. There was some improvement and some of the developments and new services that have been set in progress, for resettlement and purposeful activity for instance, were very promising. He added that however, there were some areas, such as combating the supply of drugs, making prisoners get to activities, addressing diversity issues and approach to resettlement that needed to be attended with more vigor. The inspection also found "significant levels" of self-harm, with more than 250 incidents within nine months. Improvements at the category B prison had seen the most improvement in learning and skills, which had increased "substantially" with some good new facilities and vocational workshops, were found to be generally good. The range of mental health services were also said to be "developing positively". Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service, said the prison was currently subject to a competition process and major refurbishment, and that he was please with the progress made by the prison in resettlement and learning and skills. He admitted that there was more to do especially with regard to drugs, which the governor and his staff would focus on to further improvements.