Pubdate: Sat, 11 Nov 2006
Source: Edinburgh Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2006 The Scotsman Publications Ltd
Contact:  http://www.edinburghnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1626
Author: Ian Swanson, Scottish Political Editor

JAIL BOSSES SHUN SNIFFER DOGS IN THE WAR ON DRUG SMUGGLING

Prison Bosses Are Getting Rid of Sniffer Dogs and Relying on 
Informers to Track Down Drugs Behind Bars.

Tony Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, has 
revealed the number of trained drug sniffer dogs deployed in jails 
across Scotland has been halved from 12 to six in recent years.

Scottish Nationalist justice spokesman and Lothians MSP Kenny 
MacAskill voiced surprise at the move in view of the high level of 
drugs being smuggled into Edinburgh's Saughton jail.

Prison officials insisted other methods of detection, particularly 
the use of intelligence, were just as effective.

But Mr MacAskill said: "It's not working. Our prisons seem to be 
awash with drugs. A trained dog and a daily tin of Pedigree Chum is 
not a substantial investment to make in our prison estate.

"Anecdotally, the evidence I have is it works in tackling those 
attempting to supply drugs and also those who have drugs inside the prison."

And he called on the prison service to restore the sniffer dogs.

He said: "Sometimes it's not rocket science, it's fairly basic. One 
man and his dog can probably do a lot more that a lot of covert intelligence."

The sniffer dogs are typically stationed in the visiting area of a 
prison or the approach to it, but can be deployed anywhere in the jail.

Earlier this year, figures showed more drugs seizures take place at 
Saughton jail than any other Scottish prison.

Statistics released by Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson in April 
showed a total of 184 incidents were recorded at the jail in 2004-05.

The illegal drugs were either seized from inmates or visitors, or 
were discovered concealed inside the jail.

There figures compare with 176 seizures made at Glasgow's Barlinnie 
prison, 164 at Perth, and 137 at Polmont Young Offenders' Institution.

Saughton governor David Croft said at the time that roughly half the 
seizures recorded at the jail represented success by the prison 
authorities in finding drugs before they got into the prison, either 
being taken in by visitors or thrown over the wall.

Mr MacAskill tabled a written question in the Scottish Parliament, 
asking how many trained drug sniffer dogs have been deployed in 
Scottish prisons in each year since 1999. Justice Minister Cathy 
Jamieson responded with an answer from Mr Cameron, who said the 
number of drug sniffer dogs had gone from two in 1999-2000 to eight 
in 2000-01, 12 in 2001-02 and the two following years, dropping to 
ten in 2004-05 and six in 2005-06.

He added: "The drug detection dogs have reduced in number from 12 to 
six due to tactical changes in the configuration of the Scottish 
Prison Service operational dog capability."

A prison service spokesman said: "We use a range of methods for 
detecting the introduction of contraband into prisons, of which 
sniffer dogs are one but only one method.

"One of the major ways we can interrupt the drug traffic into prisons 
is through targeted intelligence.

"Sniffer dogs are an effective method, but there are other equally 
effective methods which we use."

The dogs are not permanently based in any one establishment, but can 
be deployed to any jail in the country.

Officials believe that this element of surprise helps to increase the 
deterrent value of the animals.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine