Offenders’ perceptions of the UK prison smoking ban

• Date: 10 June 2019
• Pages: 114-125
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-06-2018-0034
• Published date: 10 June 2019
• Author: Stephanie Dugdale,Heather Semper,Rachel Povey,Sarah Elison-Davies,Glyn Davies,Jonathan Ward
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Prisoner health,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice

Offenders’perceptions of the UK prison

smoking ban

Stephanie Dugdale, Heather Semper, Rachel Povey, Sarah Elison-Davies,

Glyn Davies and Jonathan Ward

Abstract

Purpose –Despite overall reductions in levels of smoking in the UK, rates of offender smoking remain high. In

2016, it was announced that prisons in England and Wales would gradually introduce a smoking ban.

The purpose of this paper is to explore offenders’perceptions around the upcoming smoking ban.

Design/methodology/approach –A total of eight focus groups were conducted in four prisons across the

North of England. Both smoking and non-smoking offenders participated in the focus groups, and thematic

analysis was used to explore the findings.

Findings –Themes generated from the data were “freedom and rights”,“the prison environment”and

“guiding support”. Participants discussed how the smoking ban was viewed as a punishment and restricted

their freedom, with perceptions as to why the ban was being implemented centring around others trying to

control them. Participants expressed concerns around the financial implications of the smoking ban on

already stretched prison resources. Participants also recommended improving the nicotine replacement

therapy on offer, and increasing the range of leisure activities within the prison to prepare for the smoking ban.

Originality/value –Overall, it was apparent th at participants’awareness of the smoking ban was

generally poor. It is rec ommended that offenders need to be made more a ware of the smoking cessation

support they will receive and given the opportunity to ask questions about the smoking ban. Increasing

offenders’awareness of the ban may reduce stress associated with a perceived lack of choice around their

smoking behaviours.

Keywords Prison, Thematic analysis, Focus group, Smoke-free, Smoking, Offenders

Paper type Research paper

Background

Over 1bn people smoke worldwide, with tobacco killing approximately 6m people globally each

year as a combined result of direct and second-hand smoking (World Health Organization, 2015,

2016). Most deaths related to smoking can be attributed to cancer, respiratory disease and

cardiovascular disease (Jha, 2009). Due to the life-threatening consequences associated with

smoking and second-hand smoking, in 2007, the UK Government introduced legislation to ban

smoking in enclosed public places and made it illegal for under 18 s to buy tobacco (Rutter et al.,

2012). In 2007, prisons in England also banned smoking in indoor areas, excluding cells

occupied by smokers aged 18 years old or over (HMP Service, 2007).

Smoking in prisons is a major public health concern, with the prevalence of smoking in offenders

estimated at 80 per cent, approximately four times that of the prevalence in the general UK

population (Cropsey et al., 2010). Evidence suggests that the prison environment may

exacerbate these outcomes, with just under 15 per cent of offenders reporting starting smoking,

and approximately 50 per cent of smokers reporting increasing usage whilst being inside prison

(Cropsey et al., 2008). Reasons behind smoking in prisons include stress management,

boredom and use of smoking as a social aid (Butler et al., 2007; Richmond et al., 2009).

Recently, countries including Canada (Collier, 2013) and New Zealand (Beaglehole and

Bonita, 2017) and some US states (Cropsey and Kristeller, 2003) have adopted a smoking

Received 7 June 2018

Revised 7 August 2018

8 August 2018

Accepted 8 August 2018

The authors would like to

acknowledge and thank the prison

staff and governors for providing

access to participants and for

supporting this research.

Stephanie Dugdale is based at

the Department of Research

and Development, Breaking

Free Group, Manchester, UK.

Heather Semper and

Rachel Povey are both based

at Faculty of Health Sciences,

Staffordshire University,

Stoke-on-Trent, UK.

Sarah Elison-Davies,

Glyn Davies and

Jonathan Ward are all based

at the Department of Research

and Development, Breaking

Free Group, Manchester, UK.

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INTERNATIONALJOURNAL OF PRISONER HEALTH

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VOL. 15 NO. 2 2019, pp. 114-125, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1744-9200 DOI 10.1108/IJPH-06-2018-0034