Photograph by Ben Scicluna
The Prison Service is considering introducing a smoking ban across all areas of prisons in England and Wales by 2015.
A pilot is reported be introduced next year to determine the effects of the ban on the stability of prison life, with 80% of prisoners believed to smoke. The Times are reporting that Exeter and Eastwood Park will be involved in the pilot in early 2014.
Prisoners are currently permitted to smoke within their cells and in the exercise yard, but this ban would be in effect across all locations in prisons.
Smokers in prison will be offered nicotine patches as a substitute in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. However, with smoking and tobacco so integral to some parts of prison life as it is often used as an informal currency, campaigners worry that alongside the withdrawal symptoms, other parts of order could break down.
This move towards a ban is believed to be linked to legal action which staff and inmates in prisons could bring against the Prison Service for suffering the effects of passive smoking inside prisons.
Smoking has been banned in enclosed public spaces and workplaces in England since 2007, following similar bans across the rest of the UK.