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Prison smoking ban to begin in 2016 Prison smoking ban to begin in 2016
(35 minutes later)
Smoking will be banned in all prisons in Wales and four in south-west England from next year, the government has said.Smoking will be banned in all prisons in Wales and four in south-west England from next year, the government has said.
It is the first stage of a plan to make all jails in England and Wales smoke-free.It is the first stage of a plan to make all jails in England and Wales smoke-free.
And from next month, smoking will be barred in the interior of all "open" prisons in England and Wales.And from next month, smoking will be barred in the interior of all "open" prisons in England and Wales.
Earlier this year, the Prison Governors Association said a smoking ban risked making jails more unstable.Earlier this year, the Prison Governors Association said a smoking ban risked making jails more unstable.
Its new president, Andrea Albutt, said tobacco could become an illicit currency.Its new president, Andrea Albutt, said tobacco could become an illicit currency.
'Difficult thing''Difficult thing'
A smoke-free policy will be implemented in all prisons in Wales - Cardiff, Parc, Swansea and Usk/Prescoed - from January 2016, and at four English prisons - Exeter, Channings Wood, Dartmoor and Erlestoke - from March 2016.A smoke-free policy will be implemented in all prisons in Wales - Cardiff, Parc, Swansea and Usk/Prescoed - from January 2016, and at four English prisons - Exeter, Channings Wood, Dartmoor and Erlestoke - from March 2016.
Home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the government was taking a phased approach to the smoking ban because ministers had to balance implementing health laws with the risk of creating instability. Analysis
Prisoners do not have that much to do, he added, and banning smoking in some prisons could mean inmates may lobby or make trouble to get to a prison where they could smoke. By Danny Shaw, home affairs correspondent
Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said implementing smoke-free prisons was a "difficult thing to do" given the high prevalence of smoking and the "unique environment" of prisons, but the ban was necessary because of the UK's smoking legislation and health reasons. Decisions which affect conditions inside prison have to be carefully considered so as not to put stability and security at risk - never more so than with the government's move to make prisons smoke-free, as an estimated 80% of inmates are smokers.
Take away one of the few things that prisoners are legally allowed to do and it could lead to a riot. That's why the Ministry of Justice has adopted a phased approach to the smoking ban, starting with the introduction of e-cigarettes, and have promised support to inmates who give up the habit.
Ministers also hope that by banning smoking in a group of neighbouring jails, it'll make prisoners pining for a cigarette less likely to agitate for a move, as they'd have to travel a long way to find a jail where it's still allowed.
Nevertheless, prison governors and managers will be crossing their fingers when the bans come into effect, hoping there's little unrest.
Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said implementing smoke-free prisons was a "difficult thing to do" given the high prevalence of smoking and the "unique environment" of prisons, but the ban was necessary due to the UK's smoking legislation and for health reasons.
"We have no plans to move to smoke-free prisons overnight and will only do so in a phased way that takes into account operational resilience and readiness of each prison," he said."We have no plans to move to smoke-free prisons overnight and will only do so in a phased way that takes into account operational resilience and readiness of each prison," he said.
"The operational safety and security of our prisons will always be our top priority.""The operational safety and security of our prisons will always be our top priority."
The government eventually intends to ban smoking in all 136 prisons in England and Wales to reduce health risks - it is currently allowed only in prison cells and exercise yards. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "Implementation will be phased over a long period in order to make these changes safely. Prisoners will have access to e-cigarettes and other support to stop smoking."
Other countries, including Canada and New Zealand, had already made this transition successfully, she added.
Smoking is currently allowed only in prison cells and exercise yards, but the government eventually intends to ban smoking in all 136 prisons in England and Wales to reduce health risks.
The move follows a series of legal challenges by prison officers and inmates who have complained about the effects of passive smoking.The move follows a series of legal challenges by prison officers and inmates who have complained about the effects of passive smoking.
The Scottish Prison Service said it aimed to have plans in place by December 2015 on how indoor smoke-free prison facilities would be delivered.
But the Northern Ireland Department of Justice said it had no plans to change the current rules, under which smoking is permitted in prison cells and certain open spaces.