The Scottish Government is set to reinstate photocopying of letters entering prisons after nine prisoners who overdosed were taken to hospital.
Justice Secretary Keith Brown announced the measure to MSPs at Holyrood earlier today in a bid to halt the routine use of drugs in jails.
It comes after the Daily Record exclusively revealed on Monday that six inmates had overdosed, while earlier today it was announced that another three had been rushed to hospital from HMP Shotts.
Paramedics were called to maximum security jail on Monday where it is believed the trio took drugs from a rogue batch circulating in one part of the prison.
Brown has been under pressure from opposition parties to act on the overdoses. Substances often get inside prisons through drug-soaked mail or clothing.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament earlier today, Brown said: "The use of illegal drugs in prisons can't be tolerated.
"The prison service have a comprehensive range of robust security measures in place to prevent the introduction of contraband to entering our prisons.
"This change does require bringing forward a prison rule change.
"SPS (Scottish Prison Service) continue to seek innovative technological solutions in order to detect, deter and reduce the availability of contraband entering our prisons to ensure the safety of staff and those who are in its care."
Commenting on the rule change, Scottish Conservative Shadow Community Safety Minister Russell Findlay, said: “After months of dithering, Keith Brown has finally acted on our calls to reinstate photocopying of drug-soaked prison mail.
“This move will help tackle the drugs crisis in prisons across Scotland. It vindicates prison staff who have been put in increased danger through the widespread prevalence of dangerous substances.
"It is scandalous that it took the overdose of ten prisoners at maximum-security HMP Shotts for staff to be listened to, despite the Scottish Conservatives raising this issue over and over again to the SNP Justice Secretary.
"Not only are far too many lives being lost, but these overdoses have caused massive increased pressure on our ambulance service and hospitals."
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