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£1 million drug market inside Wandsworth Prison
18 September 2009
Richard Tracey, Greater London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth, has called for urgent action to deal with the problem of drugs in HM Prison Wandsworth after a new report provided damning evidence of the failure to deal with criminal behaviour within the institution.
The Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board claimed that over 70% of the prisoners are serving drugs or drugs related offences. The market place is worth over £1 million a year "fuelled by the ready availabilty of drugs".
Richard Tracey said:
"This report uncovers a serious problem with drugs at Wandsworth. Prison staff are doing their best under circumstances that are hampered by a lack of resource and manpower. The government need to get on top of this problem. Where are the local MP Sadiq Khan and Prisons Minister Maria Eagle on this issue? They should be out front with solutions. Prisons should be rehabiltating inmates, not allowing the operation of a drugs den".
