Pubdate: Fri, 23 Oct 1998
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 
Author: Hugh Robertson [shug]

PRISON DRUG-TESTING

Sir, - The introduction of drug-testing machines in Shotts prison
(your report, 20 October) will have a number of effects. Since so many
banknotes are contaminated, there will be a large number of false
positives, resulting in degrading searches of many innocent visitors.

There will also be a delay in visitors being cleared through to see
their relatives. Considering the limited time allowed for visits, this
is no minor matter.

Criminals always seem to manage to stay one step ahead, and in a
couple of months, the business sections of the press will no doubt be
writing about massive increases in profits of companies manufacturing
surgical gloves!

How much money is going to be wasted on these machines?

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Checked-by: Rich O'Grady