2016 Prison Smoking Ban

Smoking will be banned in all prisons in Wales and four in south-west England starting next year.

20:58 30 September 2015

The government has confirmed that starting next year, smoking will be banned in all prisons in Wales and four in south-west England. Smoking is also banned inside buildings at all “open” prisons in England and Wales starting next month.

 

The smoke-free policy will be implemented in all prisons in Wales, including Cardiff, Parc, Swansea and Usk/Prescoed from January 2016 and at four English prisons, Exeter, Channings Wood, Dartmoor, and Erlestorke from March 2016.

 

Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said that the decision was necessary due to the UK’s smoking legislation and for health reasons.

 

"We have no plans to move to smoke-free prisons overnight and will only do so in a phased way that takes into account operational resilience and readiness of each prison," he said.

"The operational safety and security of our prisons will always be our top priority."

 

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "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."