Prison beats tennis ball drugs wheeze

[Abrad]

A report into standards at Kingston prison in Portsmouth has been published today.
It follows an inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons at the end of last year.
Inspectors were impressed with progress at the 192-prisoner jail since the last review in 2001 which found unacceptable conditions in a dedicated elderly prisoners' wing which has since been closed.
In autumn last year they found prison officers had cracked down on a prison drugs racket.
Drugs - mostly cannabis - were hidden in tennis balls and thrown over the prison walls from nearby St Mary's cemetery.
And prisoners were claiming they had back problems, problems sleeping or depression to get their hands on prescription painkillers or anti-depressants to give them a buzz.
Among concerns were that activities for prisoners were not good enough for men serving long sentences. Plans are already underway to increase the range and quality of work and qualifications on offer.
Recommendations included that a bathing area be refurbished and a confidential bullying survey be carried out.