A freedom of information request has revealed the list of items that have been taken from prisoners.
The alcoholic drink hooch has been taken from prisoners on six occasions in the past three years, and cannabis, the opioid substance Subutex and a non-prescription tablet had also been found on prisoners.
A total of 135 miscellaneous items had also been taken off prisoners between 2017 and 2019. These were items that were not necessarily prohibited, however they may have been removed from individuals if they were not entitled to have them or they posed a health and safety risk.
When a prohibited item is found on a prisoner, punishment will be put in place in accordance with prison rules and the items may be destroyed, as a spokeswoman for the government explained.
She said: ‘The item might be destroyed or the item might be placed in a prisoners’ property. If an illegal item is found the matter may be referred to the police.
‘Punishment will be done in accordance with prison rules and may result in a loss of privileges and/or loss of association.’
In 2017, a total of 39 miscellaneous items were taken from inmates, including a lighter and a snooker cue that had been improvised as a weapon, racist drawings, a screwdriver found in a carton, a blade and drawings of male genitals.
Cable and wire was taken from prisoners on ten occasions in 2018, along with confiscations of items including foil, a diabetic testing kit and a piece of wood.
In total 59 items were confiscated over the year, and so far in 2019, 20 lots of smoking materials, a drill bit and five inappropriate pictures have been taken off inmates.
Visitors have also had items taken from them, with mobile phones confiscated on one occasion in 2016 and 2017, and twice so far in 2019.
The government spokeswoman added: ‘Prison rules prohibit some items from being brought into the prison that may jeopardise security or good order, for example drugs and mobiles.
‘We have notices outside the prison to advise visitors.’
