PRISON officers are to be tested for alcohol under a new policy to deal with drinking at work.

The move comes two weeks after the Prison Service issued an order banning staff clubs in jails from serving alcohol to officers on duty or about to start work. The testing policy is expected to be followed by a similar exercise for drugs.

The Prison Officers’ Association, which has 33,500 members, criticised the decision.

Phil Wheatley, Director-General of the Prison Service, insisted the policy would apply to all staff, including those working at headquarters in London and at regional offices. In addition to prison officers, teachers, administrative staff, probation officers and gardeners would be liable to tests.

However, the focus would be on prison officers to ensure they were not under the influence of alcohol while working. Mr Wheatley said: “The policy will apply to all staff employed by the Prison Service.

“The aim of the policy is to ensure all staff report fit for duty and remain so for the duration of their shift. The definition of ‘fit for duty’ will be the same standard used for determining whether an individual may legally drive a car.”

The existing drink drive limited is 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.The Prison Service was unable to say whether the tests would be based on a breathalyser or samples of urine.

It is the first time outside the transport sector that staff will be regularly tested for alcohol and is an admission that alcohol abuse is a problem in the Prison Service. Brian Caton, general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, said: “The ban on clubs selling alcohol to staff on duty or about to go on duty is a bit silly.” But Mark Leech, editor of The Prisons Handbook, said: “I am delighted that the service has accepted the need to ensure staff on duty are not unfit through drink or drugs.”

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