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Inmates may get drug-taking kits Inmates may get drug-taking kits
(about 2 hours later)
Aberdeen's Craiginches prison could soon pilot the UK's first needle exchange scheme for jails.Aberdeen's Craiginches prison could soon pilot the UK's first needle exchange scheme for jails.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is considering introducing the programme early next year in a bid to prevent the spread of disease.The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is considering introducing the programme early next year in a bid to prevent the spread of disease.
Drug taking among prisoners can spread diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV.Drug taking among prisoners can spread diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV.
The kits are likely to include syringes, swabs, filters and a sharps disposal box. Such schemes already operate in many other countries. As well as exchanges, kits could include swabs, filters and a sharps disposal box. Similar schemes already operate in many other countries.
We should be helping prisoners get off drugs, rather than help them take them Annabel GoldieScottish Conservative leaderWe should be helping prisoners get off drugs, rather than help them take them Annabel GoldieScottish Conservative leader
An SPS spokesman said: "If you look at prisoner surveys some say they have shared needles in prison.An SPS spokesman said: "If you look at prisoner surveys some say they have shared needles in prison.
"There will always be people who continue to take drugs in prison."There will always be people who continue to take drugs in prison.
'Damage limitation''Damage limitation'
"If you're not going to change that behaviour and have people who are going to do this, we have a responsibility to them and to make sure that our staff are safe."If you're not going to change that behaviour and have people who are going to do this, we have a responsibility to them and to make sure that our staff are safe.
"Aberdeen prison does have a high proportion of people on drugs coming into the prison.""Aberdeen prison does have a high proportion of people on drugs coming into the prison."
Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie MSP said a "radical overhaul" of rehabilitation structures in jails was needed.Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie MSP said a "radical overhaul" of rehabilitation structures in jails was needed.
She said: "We should be helping prisoners get off drugs, rather than help them take them.She said: "We should be helping prisoners get off drugs, rather than help them take them.
"This measure does rather suggest that a damage limitation exercise is being deployed, rather than any real drive to get drugs out of our prisons.""This measure does rather suggest that a damage limitation exercise is being deployed, rather than any real drive to get drugs out of our prisons."