Shropshire Star

Extra prison patrols to tackle contraband at Stoke Heath Prison

Police have stepped up patrols after receiving reports of drugs and mobile phones being thrown into the grounds of Shropshire's only prison.

Published

Officers are carrying out extra patrols day and night at Stoke Heath Prison, near Market Drayton, to target the issue.

Last month, officers arrested two men in connection with throwing prohibited items over the fence into the prison. A 42-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, both from Denbigh, are both currently on bail until March 12

Constable Mick Sturland, of the Market Drayton Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "Officers have begun patrolling Stoke Heath in a targeted manner to locate offenders and to deter further offences. These patrols now include night-time as activity was identified as taking place during darkness hours as well.

"This issue has been on the increase for several months and we have a liaison officer who works with prison staff to detect these offenders and hopefully apprehend them. We work with the prison staff carrying our patrols and police would appeal to the public to call 101 with any sightings of suspicious activity."

Last year, a report found weapons, drugs and alcohol were found at the prison. Levels of violence at Stoke Heath were also found to be high.

The report by chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick suggested the availability of drugs and alcohol contributed to poor behaviour among inmates, but acknowledged most incidents were "low level". He also said staff at the prison could do more to reduce the risk of prisoners reoffending after their release.

Mr Hardwick said the prison was managing reasonably well and inspectors were pleased to find that it cared well for the most vulnerable men it held. The report followed an unannounced inspection of the prison carried out between April 13 and 23, when it housed more than 700 prisoners.

Stoke Heath is a closed adult male category C establishment with a young adult designation and small remand function. There is also a small 16-bed category D unit for prisoners "trusted in open conditions".

Last week, a prisoner was told they must serve an extra four months in custody after being caught with a mobile phone. Gary Jones, 31, was found with the phone last August while serving time at HMP & YOI Stoke Heath.

At Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on February 16 he admitted one charge of possessing the item without authority inside a prison.

The court heard that the phone could not connect to the internet, and it was not a smartphone.

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