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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Assembly Member urges rethink on Swansea Prison drug rehabilitation wing
July 4, 2007 1:30 PM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black, has taken up with Government Ministers the future of the drug rehabilitation wing of Swansea Prison following reports that it is due to close later this year.
The wing currently houses an abstinence based rehabilitation programme and can house up to twenty five prisoners at any one time. It is the only prison in South Wales offering this service and one of only four in the UK. The programme helps prisoners to give up drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances by offering vital support and addressing the causes of addict's behaviour. Successful treatment can cut repeat crime markedly once the prisoner is released as they no longer need to steal to fund their habit, whilst disruptive behaviour patterns will have been dealt with.
"I am at a loss to understand why Swansea Prison would want to close this wing with its track record of successful treatment." said Mr. Black. "This wing offers the opportunity to help stop reoffending and it can be crucial in breaking the cycle of crime. The planned closure of this facility seems to be contrary to all of the Government's own targets on crime and substance misuse."
"Both the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government have their own programmes for tackling substance abuse and treatment of prisoners whilst in prison must form a part of this. If they are serious about tackling drugs, and more importantly drug related crime, then action needs to be taken to ensure there are rehabilitation services like this one in all prisons. Closing them down makes no sense."
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