Free condoms for prisoners to cut disease
PRISONERS in Scottish jails are to be issued free condoms in a bid to encourage safe sex and stop the spread of diseases.
A successful trial has been in place in Greenock prison since 2005 and the scheme is now being rolled out across Scotland.
Prison bosses hope it will result in a fall in cases of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis within the system.
The strategy also accepts a level of drug use by encouraging prisoners to smoke or inhale drugs rather than injecting.
The Scottish Prison Service said it was a "realistic" scheme that would benefit all prisoners. A spokesman said: "We do not, in any way, condone sex between prisoners in Scottish prisons, but this is a pragmatic decision that has been taken to help prisoners.
"We realise prisoners are a major health risk group and that they partake in risky behaviour."
Conservative MSP Bill Aitken said: "Free access to drugs and now free access to condoms while they are inside?
"The way things are going, quite a section of the population will be queuing up to get into Scottish jails."
This article: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1319362007
Last updated: 20-Aug-07 13:07 BST
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