Hundreds of contraband items confiscated from prisoners, visitors
MORE than 1000 banned items were confiscated from Victorian prisoners during the first three months of 2018 — these are the contraband goods seized by prison officers.
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PRISONERS in Victoria have been caught with edged weapons in their jails more than 100 times this year.
A total of 1,176 banned items were found by prison authorities during the first three months of 2018.
The number of knives — or edged weapons — found went from 29 in February to 40 in March.
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Banned prescription medicine was found on 157 occasions, green vegetable matter — or marijuana — 14 times and illicit powder and crystal substances 30 times.
A total of 52 alcohol and home brew kits were discovered, 27 syringes and 36 electronic devices — all of which are banned in Victorian prisons.
Edward O’Donohue, the opposition’s corrections spokesman, said: “With crime in the prison system up over 130 per cent under Daniel Andrews, it is alarming that more and more prisoners are resorting to arming themselves as violence escalates.
“These statistics again demonstrate that Daniel Andrews doesn’t have control of our prison systems.”
Buprenorphine — a drug taken as a replacement for heroin or methadone dependence — was found 101 times.
Smoking paraphernalia was found 315 times while 169 tools were discovered.
A Corrections Victoria spokeswoman said: “Some prisoners and visitors will go to great lengths to attempt to smuggle contraband into prisons, and Corrections Victoria closely monitors the Drugs in Victorian Prisons Report in order to take targeted action.
“Prison officers work extremely hard to detect contraband, and in March made 417 seizures from prisoners and 26 from visitors with drugs, alcohol, edged weapons, syringes, smoking paraphernalia and electronic devices among the items found.
“Officers use a range of detection measures to minimise the introduction of contraband in prisons, including drug detection dogs, extensive searching, random and targeted drug testing of prisoners and intelligence operations.
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“Prisoners caught with contraband face tough management measures, which can include bans on receiving visitors, or being transferred to more secure units.
“Matters may also be referred to Victoria Police for criminal investigation.
“Prisoners are also able to participate in a range of drug treatment programs, which are critical in reducing the harms associated with drug use.”