Prison seeks permission for e-cigarette trial

Tue, 14 Mar 2017

Prisoners could be allowed to use electronic cigarettes in the Isle of Man Prison in the future.

The Department of Home Affairs will seek permission to hold a six-month trial at this month's sitting of Tynwald, allowing inmates to use disposable e-cigarettes at the Jurby facility.

It's hoped the move would reduce the risk to prisoners who smoke illicit materials and misuse nicotine patches, as well as protecting other inmates and staff from second-hand smoke.

The Government also claims allowing e-cigarettes could save around £15,000 a year on the cost of supplying nicotine patches to prisoners.

Prisoners will still be able to seek help quitting nicotine, but won't be able to use patches once the pilot scheme comes into force.

The Isle of Man Prison introduced a smoking ban in March 2008.