HM Prison and Probation Services
Central Government
Action Planned
HMPPS is considering alternative vape devices, including one using vapourless valve technology, to mitigate risks associated with e-cigarettes in prisons, but is constrained by cost and commercial availability. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Haigh, Inquest into the death of Imran Mahmood Thank you for your Regulation 28 Report of 4 September 2019 addressed to Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive Officer of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) , following the inquest into the death of Imran Mahmood at HMP Dovegate on 16 July 2018. As you know, the report did not reach us immediately, and am grateful to you for agreeing an extension to the statutory deadline for the submission of this response: know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr Mahmood's family and would first like to express my sincere condolences for their loss. Every death in custody is a tragedy and the safety of those in our care is my absolute priority_ am grateful to you for bringing to my attention your concerns about the risks posed by the e-cigarettes available across the prison estate, with regard both to drug use and to fires_
We are aware of these risks and continue to seek the safest options available. We are not in a position to fund the development and manufacture of these products, So we are limited to what is commercially available_ We are also constrained by cost, as we are not permitted to subsidise sales to prisoners and must offer products that are affordable to them However, we are currently considering alternative vape devices, including a new device that is not an e-cigarette and has no electronics, batteries, heat or vapour, instead using vapourless valve technology to deliver a low dose of nicotine_ If and when we identify an alternative device that is suitable on security, safety and commercial grounds we will make it available across the estate. It should be noted that whilst there is information indicating that fires have been started by e-cigarettes, both accidentally through misuse, and with intent, our evidence shows that the number of cell fires has significantly reduced since the prison estate has gone smoke free Thank you again for bringing this matter of concern to my attention: trust that this response provides assurance that we are aware of the risks and taking action to mitigate them
We are aware of these risks and continue to seek the safest options available. We are not in a position to fund the development and manufacture of these products, So we are limited to what is commercially available_ We are also constrained by cost, as we are not permitted to subsidise sales to prisoners and must offer products that are affordable to them However, we are currently considering alternative vape devices, including a new device that is not an e-cigarette and has no electronics, batteries, heat or vapour, instead using vapourless valve technology to deliver a low dose of nicotine_ If and when we identify an alternative device that is suitable on security, safety and commercial grounds we will make it available across the estate. It should be noted that whilst there is information indicating that fires have been started by e-cigarettes, both accidentally through misuse, and with intent, our evidence shows that the number of cell fires has significantly reduced since the prison estate has gone smoke free Thank you again for bringing this matter of concern to my attention: trust that this response provides assurance that we are aware of the risks and taking action to mitigate them