ATTEMPTS to crack down on drug use in prisons have been welcomed after new figures show positive tests have more than doubled in some areas of the region.

New figures released from the Ministry of Justice show positive drug tests have increased in prisons in the North-East, with Holme House in Stockton and Durham the worst affected.

Holme House had seen 202 positive tests outs of the 631 carried out last year, compared with 67 out of 741 in the previous 12 months.

Of those positive cases, 158 of them were for pyschoactive substances, which includes Spice.

In Durham, there were 143 positive tests out of 573, compared with 65 out of 580 the year previously.

The figures come after a £9m pilot scheme at Holme House was launched to tackle drugs in prison and help offenders stay clean for good.

It involves tightening security to stop drugs entering the prison in the first place, while helping offenders break their habit of substance abuse.

Officials say the pilot, which began in April 2017, has seen a rise in drug seizures in the prison and an increase in the number of offenders in education and work.

But Alex Cunningham, Stockton North MP, said it was still “early days”.

The Northern Echo previously revealed more than five kilos of Spice, which is smoked and causes hallucinations, was smuggled into the jail in cereal packets.

Mr Cunningham said: “I’m pleased that after I raised the problems in the Commons several times, the Justice Secretary visited Holme House to understand the challenges prison officers have been facing.

“The independent report on the prison eight months after the start of the pilot spoke of increasing problems with drugs and violence.

“It is still early days for this initiative but I hope the Government’s optimism is justified with more drugs being stopped from getting into Holme House, fewer assaults and better support for both prisoners and staff.”

Deerbolt Prison in Barnard Castle saw a rise from eight to 58 positive drug tests in the last year. whilst Frankland Prison’s positive cases went up from 19 to 34.

Ron Hogg, police, crime and victims’ commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, said: “Drugs cause immense harm to the individuals – they fuel violence in prisons and prevent offenders from rehabilitating.

“To break that cycle, we need an innovative approach like the one being piloted at HMP Holme House.

“That’s what this pilot offers - not only stopping drugs getting into prison, but helping offenders break the habit for good and addressing the reasons why they are taking drugs in the first place.”

Justice Secretary David Gauke said: “We do not underestimate the scale of the task, but our aim is to make prisons places of safety, security and decency where offenders have a chance to turn their lives around.”

Durham Prison has recently featured in a documentary series looking at life on the inside, which included analysing what TV bosses described as its “escalating drug problem”.