A PRISONERS advocate says he has received no complaints and is pleasantly surprised with how the transition to smoke-free Tasmanian prisons has been handled.
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Smoking was banned in all Tasmanian prisons and remand centres as of yesterday.
It will make Tasmania the third state or territory in the country to ban smoking in prisons, behind the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Tasmania Prisoners’ Advisory Legal Service chairman Greg Barns welcomed the change, despite previously opposing it due to the risk of increased inmate tension, a black market and inequality.
‘‘I haven’t had complaints about it, so I’ve sort of changed my mind,’’ he said.
‘‘The prison authority have done a pretty good job in the transition and there’s not many people who will have to go cold turkey.
‘‘If they do go cold turkey, there is intensive assistance.’’
The cessation of smoking in Tasmanian prisons has been implemented over the past 18 months with a number of facilities, including the Hobart Reception Prison, Launceston Reception Prison and Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison going smoke-free last year.
Accommodation units in the Risdon Prison Complex and the Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison were also declared smoke-free last year.
Tasmania Prison Service director Brian Edwards said a peer mentoring program, Nicotine Replacement Therapy and support from QUIT Tasmania had assisted prisoners and staff through the transition.
He said the Tasmania Prison Service had also been running activities for prisoners, including sporting and recreational activities, to help through the withdrawal stage.
‘‘Prisoners caught smoking tobacco will be dealt with under the normal Prison Service processes as they would be if caught with any other contraband item,’’ he said.
The move to ban smoking in prisons is a way to denormalise smoking and reduce the smoking rate for prisoners.
About 80 per cent of prisoners previously smoked in Tasmania.
All Australian states and territories are expected to implement the ban by the end of 2015.