The Government says the idea is to protect the health of inmates and staff - but experts warn it could lead to unrest and riots.
Sky News has seen letters from prisoners threatening violence and unrest as a smoking ban is introduced in jails across England and Wales.
From this weekend, Open Prisons will begin a phased introduction of the scheme banning smoking inside buildings.
But the real tensions are likely to come early next year when the ban is rolled out to higher security jails.
Prisoners will be given access to e-cigarettes to help them quit
Experts have warned that the ban could lead to unrest and rioting, piling more pressure on the Prison Service, which is already under strain due to government cuts.
In a series of letters shown to Sky News, one prisoner said: "If this ban comes in, there will be violence. Trust me."
Another claimed: "They think they can stop us smoking ... we'll see what happens."
A third prisoner wrote: "We're already planning a fight back. It's us against them."
Sources have said there are many more letters from inmates, expressing similar sentiments.
Smoking is currently allowed only in prison cells and exercise yards, but the government intends to ban smoking in all indoor areas across the 136 prisons in England and Wales to reduce health risks.
Former prisoner Noel Smith, 55, has spent 32 years of his life locked up in various institutions after being convicted of nearly 60 criminal offences, ranging from bank robbery to shootings.
He said: "Smoking is the last thing that prisoners have got that is legal in prison and I don't think they're going to take this lying down.
"If I was in prison I'd be planning on making very severe protests. Prison is a stressful place to begin with."
A smoke-free policy will be implemented in all prisons in Wales from January 2016, and at four English prisons - Exeter, Channings Wood, Dartmoor and Erlestoke - from March 2016, before being rolled out to other jails.
The Prison Governors Association (PGA), which supports the ban, admitted it could not predict how prisoners would react when it comes in, and said it would monitor the initial phase to ensure stability and safety were maintained.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) has campaigned for the ban because of concerns about the effects of second hand smoke on prison officers.
Joe Simpson, POA Assistant General Secretary, said: "It is a massive issue, and it's certainly something we'll have to keep an eye on.
"We are always wary of what the prisoners' reaction could be, and that's why it's being rolled out instead of just a blanket ban.
"We are worried. However, we have got to try it for the health of prison officers and prisoners."
A Prison Service spokesman said: "We have long been committed to a smoke-free prison estate.
"Implementation will be phased over a long period in order to make these changes safely. Prisoners will have access to e-cigarettes and other support to stop smoking."
He added: "Other countries, including Canada and New Zealand, have already made this transition successfully."
Overcrowding and budget cutbacks have already contributed to increased tensions in the country's prisons, with assaults on prison staff up by a third in recent months.
With around three-quarters of inmates regular smokers, banning the practice inside prison will certainly prove challenging for the authorities.
0 comments:
Post a Comment