THE variety of lags setting hearth to their cells has greater than doubled in 4 years — with hovering numbers of vapes in charge.
Inmates began a document 2,931 blazes intentionally or accidentally within the yr to March 2023, nicely up on the 1,273 between 2019 and 2020.
AFPThe variety of lags setting hearth to their cells has greater than doubled in 4 years with hovering numbers of vapes in charge (inventory image)[/caption]
It’s believed the 126 per cent surge was attributable to vape pens — both smuggled in, or purchased with money earned for jail work.
Essentially the most blazes — 137 — have been recorded at HMP Forest Financial institution in Salford, Gtr Manchester.
An insider advised The Solar: “E-cigs have change into so widespread that they will simply begin fires.
“Even when they’re minor, it takes a whole lot of effort and time to type out and that distracts officers from different duties.”
The variety of contraband e-cigs in jails shouldn’t be recorded however officers made 4,673 discoveries of tobacco final yr.
Labour minister Sir Nic Dakin, who launched the figures, stated: “Nearly all of fires have been minor.
“The place it’s discovered {that a} hearth is the results of arson, or recklessness, the prisoner will face sturdy punitive motion, which may embody additional fees.”
A Jail Service spokeswoman stated: “To additional scale back the chance of fires, we’ve got launched an ignition-free Safer Vape Pen which restricts the flexibility to begin a hearth.”