A third of prisoners in for drug-related crimes
DRUG-RELATED crimes account for a third of imprisonments at Les Nicolles.
The latest population breakdown in May shows there are 88 prisoners, with 32 of them there for drug offences, 20 for sexual offences, 14 for violence and 10 for property-related crimes which include arson, shoplifting, vandalism, theft and burglary.
Prison governor Dave Matthews said: ‘Bailiwick Law Enforcement recognises the impact that drugs have on the local community and remain committed to bringing those involved in the importation or distribution of drugs to justice.’
He said the number of sexual offenders was due to an increase in the number of historical cases being investigated.
‘The positive reporting of successful prosecutions in relation to sex offences has given victims more confidence to come forward and engage with police,’ he said.
‘Addressing the offending behaviour needs of the sex offender population is resource intensive.
‘The Probation Service and prison continue to work together to assess for, and deliver, the Sex Offender Treatment Programme in consultation with a forensic psychologist via a now well-established triage, treatment and risk management process.’
Of those in prison, 73 were from Guernsey, nine from the UK, one from Latvia, three from Portugal, and one from Northern Ireland and another from Scotland.
Age-wise, 50 of them were between 21 and 34 years old, 25 between 35 and 54 years.
A total of 23 are serving sentences between 12 months and four years, 22 from four to seven years and there are two serving life sentences.
There are currently six adult female prisoners.
The official capacity at the prison is 134.
The population has fallen from a monthly average of 117 in 2012, peaking at 122 in August of that year, to 91 in 2017, when the figure never went above 106.
In 2018, the lowest monthly average population was 89 in February and the highest was 93 in January.
