Call for prison chiefs to hasten use of sniffer dogs

PRISON officers will this week push for the full roll-out of sniffer dogs in jails to combat the “scourge” of drug usebehind bars.

Following arrests of three guards over the smuggling of mobile phones and drugs into jails last week, prison chiefs will be asked to “speedily” introduce thesecurity measure across 16 prison complexes.

The Prison Officers’Association (POA), including its president Gabriel Keaveney, are expected to meet directors from the Irish Prison Service (IPS) this Thursday. The POA will also press for strong vetting procedures and screening of new staff.