Pubdate: Sun, 25 May 2008 Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) Copyright: 2008 New Zealand Herald Contact: http://info.nzherald.co.nz/letters/ Website: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300 UNION: BAN JAIL CONTACT TO STAMP OUT DRUGS Banning contact visits with inmates is the best way to stamp out drug smuggling into prisons, says prison officer' union boss Beven Hanlon. Mr Hanlon was commenting after the drug 'P', worth around $26,000 on the blackmarket, was found during a cell search in Auckland's Mt Eden Prison. Corrections Department northern regional manager Warren Cummins said the amount of the drug was roughly equivalent in size and weight a box of matches. The case had been referred to police, and was now before the courts. Corrections Association president Mr Hanlon said the 'P' could have been thrown over the prison wall, though it was more likely to have been smuggled in by a person. "One way to help prevent it being smuggled in is to stop contact visits," he told The Sunday News. "It sounds extreme but no contact, no pass-on contraband." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake