Society is losing chances to make society drug-free, says one

Nottinghamshire Deputy Chief Constable Howard Roberts has told the Home Office that chances to change inmates' lifestyles are being missed.

One dealer told a recent conference of police chiefs that he became addicted to heroin while in jail.

The Home Office target of only 10% positive drug tests among inmates has not been met for the past two years.

Mr Roberts said the government's investment in drugs treatment had brought positive results generally but that work still needed to be done in prisons.

Prison can present a key opportunity to change the futures of prisoners with respect to their drugs misuse Howard Roberts Acpo

"To maximise the effectiveness of that investment, it is most important that, within the prison environment, inmates have as drug free an environment as possible," he said.

"Prison can present a key opportunity to change the futures of prisoners with respect to their drugs misuse, whilst in a controlled environment."

Mr Roberts commended to ministers the work of a prison governor in his area who has achieved dramatic cuts in the number of positive tests in two successive prisons.

He urged renewed effort within the Prison Service to reduce drug supply, based upon a good practice template, performance accountability, strong leadership by prison governors, and strong partnerships between prisons and police.

"The real gains that can flow from such work will then further maximise the Government's investment in drug treatment, and benefit not only the individuals themselves but the communities that suffer from drug fuelled criminality," he said.

The Home Office says it is totally committed to reducing the supply of illicit drugs in jails.