Scottish Prison Service urged to take ‘sensible’ approach to smoking

SPS yesterday announced plans to achieve “smoke-free” prisons by late 2018 following research into the impact of second-hand smoke on prison workers.

SPS chief executive Colin McConnell said: “We were both surprised and shocked by the level of exposure to second-hand smoke - not generally but more specifically in some of the hot spots that we have.”

“Some particular areas of our prisons are more problematic than others and the different times of the day are more problematic than others.”

The smoking ban introduced in 2006 does not apply to prisons.

The prison service’s announcement has been met with some resistance from pro-smoking groups and from penal reform organisations.

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “A sensible and considered approach to smoking in prisons would leave prisoners with a choice - at least to smoke outside.

“If this is not part of the Scottish Government’s plans, there has to be proper support while people give up - not just smoking cessation aids, but increased vigilance for signs of distress that could easily turn into self harm or worse.”

Simon Clark, director of Forest, an advocacy group funded by the tobacco industry, said a smoking ban in prison “risks inflaming a tense and sometimes violent environment”.

Mr Clark added: “Tobacco is an important currency in prison. The removal of one of the few privileges inmates are allowed could also fuel the use of illicit substances.”