PFD report

Luke Morris Jones · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
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

Source document

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
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.5

  1. Action

    Introduce improved gate searching to limit the availability of drugs.

    Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 December 2019.
  2. Action

    Operate a Rapiscan machine to improve detection of contraband items.

    Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 December 2019.
  3. Action

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

    Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStatus unclearThe respondent did not make the status of this action clear when they made their response on 29 December 2019.

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

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

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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

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

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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

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

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.4

  1. 1

    Provide safe detoxification support for men on reception.

    Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 December 2019.
  2. 2

    Educate prisoners about risks associated with psychoactive-substance use.

    Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 December 2019.
  3. 3

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

    Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 December 2019.
  4. 4

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

    Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 December 2019.

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

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
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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