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<p>Prisons should be places of safety and reform. The increase in psychoactive substances
in prisons has contributed to a rise in prison violence, making offenders more volatile
and their reactions more difficult to judge and manage. Improving safety and decreasing
violence is an urgent priority for the Government.</p><p>We have introduced legislation
to restrict the supply and possession of psychoactive substances in prisons, and put
in place new penalties for possession of a psychoactive substance in custody. Following
a successful trial in 34 prisons over the summer, we have introduced an innovative
new programme of mandatory drug testing for psychoactive substances in all prisons.</p><p>Mandatory
Drug Testing (MDT) figures for prisons in England and Wales are published by financial
year on gov.uk. MDT for psychoactive substances began in September 2016 and figures
will be published in due course.</p>
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