Prison to go smoke-free in 2019

Wednesday 26 December 2018

Inmates have been kicking their smoking habits as HM Prison La Moye prepares to go smoke-free from the beginning of next year.

Those residing at the prison have been receiving help and support from the Prison's healthcare team and stop-smoking group 'Help 2 Quit', as La Moye sets out to be a no smoking zone by January.

The teams have delivered five stop-smoking groups to 42 prisoners, which saw 45% of them completely quit the habit.

Dr Linda Diggle, Head of Preventive Programmes, said: “Our Stop-Smoking nurses have worked closely with the Prison Healthcare team throughout 2018 and together the two teams have achieved a very good success rate in helping prisoners to quit.”

To continue the success of the initiative, La Moye began putting on one-to-one sessions for prisoners last month to further support them quitting.

Pictured: HM La Moye will become a no smoking zone in 2019.

Prison governor Nick Cameron said: “The States of Jersey Prison Service assists prisoners in addressing offending behaviour and leading better and healthier lives as part of preparing them for release. Helping prisoners address the harmful effects of smoking for themselves, their families and especially their children all helps improve the quality of life for Jersey as a whole.”

From January the prison will be entirely smoke free, and prisoners will have no way to purchase cigarettes.

Those who do not want to stop smoking will have the option to buy e-cigarettes, and will be supported by the Help 2 Quit team should they change their minds and decide to quit. New inmates entering La Moye will also be able to access the Help 2 Quit services weekly clinic.

Pictured: Smoking is responsible for around 140 deaths yearly.

Smoking is responsible for around 140 deaths and 1,000 hospital admissions yearly, and remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease in the island, despite the number of smokers dropping from 25 per cent in 2005 to 16 per cent as of last year.

The States' Tobacco Strategy recognised that there is a particularly high rate of smoking amongst prisoners, where around four out of five new inmates are smokers.