Luke Morris Jones · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 3 Dec 2019•North Wales (East and Central)

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
3

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 3 recipients

Stated actions
9

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Inadequate control of access to novel psychoactive substances within the prison
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate control of illicit substance use and supply in secure institutions

Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.9

  1. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Provide safe detoxification support for men on reception.

  2. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Introduce improved gate searching to limit the availability of drugs.

  3. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Operate a Rapiscan machine to improve detection of contraband items.

  4. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Use intelligence systems and collaborate with HMPPS and police colleagues to restrict illicit-substance supply.

  5. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Revise Berwyn’s prison Drug Strategy to restrict illicit items, apply consequences for possession, and support dependent users.

  6. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Educate prisoners about risks associated with psychoactive-substance use.

  7. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Extend mandatory drug testing to include two additional psychoactive-substance tests.

  8. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Refer people suspected of substance misuse to the substance-misuse service for support and prescribed clinical management under an agreed care pathway.

  9. HM Prison and Probation Service

    Change supervision of domestic visits to limit the availability of drugs.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Inadequate control of access to novel psychoactive substances within the prison

Wider context from the report

“The report of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman highlighted that there were concerns regarding the accessibility of drugs within HMP Berwyn and notwithstanding that certain measures had been taken at HMP Berwyn (namely in relation to the installation of a Rapiscan to test some of the incoming mail), evidence at the inquest confirmed that the continuing availability and use of novel psychoactive substances. By way of example, the evidence of the prison GP indicated that at least one instance of a prisoner being intoxicated was reported to him each day which he worked and as a result I consider it highly probable that the combination of the accessibility of NPS and the significant risks which they pose to health will be the cause of future deaths at the prison. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate control of illicit substance use and supply in secure institutions.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide safe detoxification support for men on reception.

Verbatim wording from the response

“safe detoxification of men on reception are all part of the prison’s efforts to limit the availability of drugs. The mandatory drug testing procedures have also been extended to cover two more psychoactive substance tests in line with national policy. The extended tests will help indicate if some of the emerging psychoactive substances presently not in the testing range of HMPPS are being used at Berwyn.”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 29 December 2019

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Introduce improved gate searching to limit the availability of drugs.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Sophisticated intelligence systems that are designed to reduce the supply of illicit substances into the prison involve collaboration with a range of HMPPS and Police colleagues. As you know, a Rapiscan machine is now in place which has vastly improved the detection of contraband items. The introduction of improved gate searching, changes in the supervision of domestic visits and support for”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Operate a Rapiscan machine to improve detection of contraband items.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Sophisticated intelligence systems that are designed to reduce the supply of illicit substances into the prison involve collaboration with a range of HMPPS and Police colleagues. As you know, a Rapiscan machine is now in place which has vastly improved the detection of contraband items. The introduction of improved gate searching, changes in the supervision of domestic visits and support for”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Use intelligence systems and collaborate with HMPPS and police colleagues to restrict illicit-substance supply.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Sophisticated intelligence systems that are designed to reduce the supply of illicit substances into the prison involve collaboration with a range of HMPPS and Police colleagues. As you know, a Rapiscan machine is now in place which has vastly improved the detection of contraband items. The introduction of improved gate searching, changes in the supervision of domestic visits and support for”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Revise Berwyn’s prison Drug Strategy to restrict illicit items, apply consequences for possession, and support dependent users.

Verbatim wording from the response

“At a local level, in recognition of the dangers posed by the use of psychoactive substances, the Governor of Berwyn and the Regional Substance Misuse lead for HMPPS Wales have revised the prison’s Drug Strategy. This primarily focuses on restricting the availability of illicit items, ensuring that there are appropriate consequences for those found in possession, and offering appropriate support for dependent users.”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Educate prisoners about risks associated with psychoactive-substance use.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Intelligence and information sharing is crucial to restricting availability, and the Governor can draw on the Regional Dedicated Search Team when there is intelligence to suggest that prisoners are involved in the drug culture. The consequences for those found in possession of illicit items should be a deterrent, and can include additional days being added to sentences. Any person suspected of substance misuse use is referred to the substance misuse service for support and prescribed clinical management using an agreed care pathway. The prison is also focusing on educating prisoners of the risks associated with the use of psychoactive substances, as part of its broader work to promote health and wellbeing.”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Extend mandatory drug testing to include two additional psychoactive-substance tests.

Verbatim wording from the response

“safe detoxification of men on reception are all part of the prison’s efforts to limit the availability of drugs. The mandatory drug testing procedures have also been extended to cover two more psychoactive substance tests in line with national policy. The extended tests will help indicate if some of the emerging psychoactive substances presently not in the testing range of HMPPS are being used at Berwyn.”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Refer people suspected of substance misuse to the substance-misuse service for support and prescribed clinical management under an agreed care pathway.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Intelligence and information sharing is crucial to restricting availability, and the Governor can draw on the Regional Dedicated Search Team when there is intelligence to suggest that prisoners are involved in the drug culture. The consequences for those found in possession of illicit items should be a deterrent, and can include additional days being added to sentences. Any person suspected of substance misuse use is referred to the substance misuse service for support and prescribed clinical management using an agreed care pathway. The prison is also focusing on educating prisoners of the risks associated with the use of psychoactive substances, as part of its broader work to promote health and wellbeing.”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Change supervision of domestic visits to limit the availability of drugs.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Sophisticated intelligence systems that are designed to reduce the supply of illicit substances into the prison involve collaboration with a range of HMPPS and Police colleagues. As you know, a Rapiscan machine is now in place which has vastly improved the detection of contraband items. The introduction of improved gate searching, changes in the supervision of domestic visits and support for”

Source location

2019-0409-Response-from-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 29 December 2019

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026