DOZENS of North-East prison visitors were last year banned for smuggling drugs, according to new statistics.

The figures, obtained exclusively by The Northern Echo, show that 193 bans are in place in the region.

Almost two-thirds were imposed at Holme House, in Stockton, and Durham, which totalled 53 and 64 respectively.

Fifteen bans at Holme House were for six months or more - indicating the most serious offences - which was the largest figure in the country.

The prison with the highest number of bans for the period 2001/2 was privately run Blakenhurst, in Worcestershire, with 194 from an overall total in England and Wales of 2,941.

The release of the figures comes amid continuing concern over the extent of smuggling.

Last month, Teesside Judge Michael Taylor described how people were appearing before the courts for prison drug-smuggling almost weekly.

Bans for smuggling, often accompanied by an arrest by the police, are usually for a minimum of three months, but depend on the discretion of the individual prison.

Mike Newell, governor of Durham Jail and the chairman of the Prison Governors' Assocation, said he believed prison drug-smuggling had stabilised.

His prison has improved both security and treatment programmes to tackle substance abuse among inmates.

He said: "We have a lot of prisoners coming in here for the first time, and we are realistic to know that a lot of them have been using drugs.

"They are likely to have friends and relatives who are able to get hold of drugs, and therefore it is likely they will try initially to bring drugs in."

The Northern Echo revealed earlier this year how professional drug mules, equipped with fake identifications, were being paid to target the region's prisons.

The Prison Service says that tackling prisoners' drug habits is equally as crucial as stopping illegal substances from entering prisons.

It estimates that 75 per cent of the prison population have abused drugs in the 24 hours before their arrest.

Low Newton has the biggest problem with drugs, according to the figures. 17.6 per cent of inmates tested positive for drugs.

In Durham, 13.4 per cent tested positive, 11.8 per cent in Holme House, and 11.5 per cent in Northallerton, all above the national average of 11.3 per cent.

Deerbolt, Frankland, and Full Sutton were below average, with 9.1 per cent, 7.6 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively.

Brian Caton, general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "We are far better now at detecting drug-smuggling and treating prisoners with addictions than we have ever been.

"But the fact remains that this is still a big problem and some prisons still do not have enough staff and resources."