Inmates at Jurby prison are to be allowed to use specialist e-cigarettes as a part of a six-month pilot project, if Tynwald gives the go-ahead.

When the smoking ban was first introduced in March 2008 at the old Victoria Road prison, it sparked a hunger strike. And when the new prison in Jurby opened in August that year there were reports of inmates resorting to rolling their own cigarettes using teabags.

The e-cigarette trial being proposed by the Department of Home Affairs aims to reduce the risks and harm caused by prisoners using illicit smoking materials.

As well as protecting staff from toxic second-hand smoke, it will save £15,000 a year on the cost of nicotine replacement therapy patches.

The DHA will seek Tynwald support to allow the use of disposable e-cigarettes on a trial basis.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey MHK says he is recommending the change in policy as a result of updated evidence and medical opinion.

The Minister said: ’We will review the effectiveness of the trial after six months and make a decision on whether or not to continue.’

He added: ’This should not be interpreted as a failure of the prison smoking ban or the department going soft on prisoners. This approach will help to improve health, safety and discipline at the prison.’

NRT patches, which are being misused by some prisoners, will be withdrawn when the pilot project comes into effect.

The E-Burn cigarettes proposed for use in the prison are see-through so staff can check nothing is hidden inside and the semi-rigid body makes it less likely to be used as a weapon. It is designed not to look like a cigarette to make it less attractive to young inmates who don’t already smoke or vape.

Latest reports estimate that using e-cigarettes is around 95 per cent safer than smoking tobacco, while the risk of vapours to bystanders is considered ’negligible.’

Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians have recently released reports advocating the use of e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking. And the island’s public health directorate has said it supports piloting the use of e-cigarettes at the prison as a ’practical harm reduction approach.’