Magilligan Prison: Drug use not being tackled sufficiently - report

Inspections found that random drug testing at HMP Magilligan had an average higher rate of positives than at most similar prisons

There has been "insufficient progress" dealing with the problem of drug use at Magilligan Prison near Limavady, a report has found.

The jail holds about 500 prisoners.

The Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) report covered a check-up on recommendations made after a 2021 inspection.

"Progress in addressing access to illicit substances had been too slow and positive drug test rates remained," it found.

This is despite the introduction of an X-ray body scanner, which has been "a positive initiative".

More broadly, the report found there was no meaningful progress in half of the 14 recommendations from three years ago.

These included addressing prisoner perceptions of victimisation by staff.

The report stated: "The atmosphere in the prison was relaxed, prisoners were unlocked for most of the day, and we observed examples of positive interactions between staff and prisoners."

However, the chief inspector, Jacqui Durkin, said she was concerned by some of what the follow-up visit discovered.

She accepted there had been staff shortages and population pressures.

"Magilligan has the potential to be a model establishment, but the governor and leaders in the Northern Ireland Prison Service need to address recommendations with greater vigour," Ms Durkin continued.

"We do not underestimate the challenges faced, particularly with the current prison population numbers and resource challenges," she added.

The initial report found half of all prisoners surveyed said they had a drug problem before arriving at Magilligan.

Almost one third of those surveyed said they developed a problem with drugs or medication not prescribed to them while there.

CJI also examined progress on recommendations made for Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim, which holds about 1,200 prisoners

Meanwhile, Ms Durkin said Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim had made reasonably good progress.

"It had introduced a robust process to learn from serious incidents and prisoners now had more regular and consistent access to education, skills and work activities," she continued.

"The installation of body scanners and reintroduction of mandatory drug testing had helped reduce the level of drugs and other contraband being smuggled into the prison."

Justice Minister Naomi Long welcomed the CJI findings and said: "I fully appreciate that there are areas where more work is required.

"Prison staff work tirelessly to disrupt the flow of illegal substances into the jails, as well as supporting recovery from addiction.

"Substance use, addiction and poor mental health are intrinsically linked and there needs to be a whole government approach to tackling these issues."

DUP MP for East Londonderry and his party's security spokesperson Gregory Campbell said drug abuse was a problem in prisons here in general and one he had raised several times.

He said he was worried that the availability of drugs inside a prison could lead to prisoners, even those with no previous issues with drugs, developing an addiction during their time in jail.