Letters to prisoners in Liverpool are being photocopied and the originals withheld to prevent paper soaked in potentially lethal drugs like 'spice' getting to inmates.
So-called 'psychoactive substances' (PS), synthetic drugs that can mimic cocaine, cannabis and heroin, have caused enormous problems inside the UKs jails. Violence linked to drug-debts, addiction and fatal reactions are all regular issues grappled with by prison governors.
In HMP Liverpool the issues caused by PS were highlighted in a recent Fatal Incident Report on the death of 50-year-old Anthony Peloe, from Speke, who was found dead in his cell midway through a trial for robbery. He was found unresponsive on the morning of January 27 last year, and prison staff discovered a "modified vape" and burnt foil near his body.
READ MORE: 'Love bomber' tattooed ex's name on his arm then battered her in front of baby
Mr Peloe had suffered a heart attack in 2018, and had received troubling scan results suggesting his heart was not functioning normally before the incident, making PS a huge risk. A pathologist concluded his medical cause of death was heart disease with PS use, after toxicological tests confirmed the drug was in his system.
In the report, by investigators from the office of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) examined what measures the prison was taking to prevent PS getting onto the wings. HMP Liverpool's 'substance misuse lead' confirmed a new drug and alcohol strategy was put in place in February 2020, aimed at reducing the amount of illicit substances available to prisoners.
The report said: "The steps included the use of a body scanner, drug detection dogs, the replacement of cell windows to limit the effectiveness of drones, proactive intelligence led searching and the building of local community ties to encourage anonymous reporting of drugs being thrown over the prison walls.
"He said that the prison was soon to install an enhanced entry gate to help detect illicit items being carried by visitors and staff. In addition, prisoners’ letters were being photocopied to prevent prisoners receiving PS impregnated paper."
According to not-for-profit drugs misuse company Catch-22, spice being soaked into paper is a tactic seen in other jails in the UK. In a guide for prison officers, it said: "To avoid detection within the custodial estate, there has been a recent spike in letters and cards being sprayed with the liquid Spice compound, left to dry and then being sent in via the normal postprocess.
"Because Spice is scentless, it can be extremely difficult to detect. Often drug detection dogs or random testing is the only way to detect the compound on any suspected items sent into the establishment."
Following Mr Peloe's death, the PPO report made a recommendation to the governor of HMP LIverpool stating: "The Governor should continue to identify and address weaknesses in measures to prevent the supply of drugs into Liverpool and revise the substance misuse strategy in light of the findings."
READ NEXT:
Live updates as Merseyrail trains cancelled due to 'ongoing incident'
Man stabbed outside Liverpool ONE dessert shop as six teens arrested
Man left with £1,500 damage to luxury mansion after handyman fitted shelves in the dark
Teen walked free from court for bottling ex then shot 15-year-old a month later
Cabbies helped snare taxi rapist in biggest manhunt in Merseyside history
