Prison officers vote to ban smoking in prisons

PRISON officers yesterday voted for a total ban on smoking in prisons, which would apply to staff and inmates. Jails and psychiatric hospitals are among the institutions which were exempted from the smoking ban two years ago.

But, Prison Officers Association (POA) health and safety co-ordinator Nigel Mallen claimed the Government did not look hard enough to find ways of enforcing the ban in prisons. He suggested exercise yards could be used by smokers, while it would be better still if active smoking cessation programmes, or nicotine patches, were introduced.

Mr Mallen said the 3,150-member POA was prepared to challenge the constitutionality of the non-appliance of the ban in their workplaces.

“It’s quite incredible that the health of prison officers and prisoners is being threatened by environmental smoke and that nothing is being done about it,” he said. Calling for an independent survey, he claimed a research agency wishing to do such a survey had been denied access to prisons.