XN000022-1976-04-07 — Page 40

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Wednesday, April 7, 1976

To remedy this deficiency, he said, the Police were at present

investigating the feasibility of a study of recidivism, which would include

the relationship between drug addiction and crime.

"Ia aduition a Working Party chaired by the Commissioner for Narcotics

is finalising its report on the treatment of minor drug offenders, after

studying what alternatives may be available for dealing with them other than

by imprisonment. The report should be available for study by the Government

within the next few months," he said.

Turning to triad activities in prisons, Mr. Davies said the majority

of offenders not only in prisons but also in other penal institutions had had

triad affiliations of varying degrees.

Despite this situation, he said, every effort was made to minimise

triad activity in institutions.

He described as exaggerated a suggestion that "triad members exercise

a second level of command".

On measures to curb nacotics activities in prisons, Mr. Davies said

the Prisons Department had three laboratories for urine testing and in all

institutions random samples were constantly being taken for checking-

He added that this task was tackled with vigour and determination.

In January, he said, more than 50 per cent of the prison population

in Stanley were sampled and again in February, and special searching units

were constantly conducting random searches in the Prison and especially in the

cells.

This, coupled with the spot checks involving urine testing, has

greatly reduced the problem, Mr. Davies said.

/On prison

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