Smoking will be banned in all prisons in Wales and four in south-west England from next year, the government says.
This will begin a phased roll-out that will eventually see all jails in England and Wales go smoke-free.
And from next month, smoking will be barred in the interior of all "open" prisons in England and Wales.
The Prison Governors Association, which supports the ban, said it would monitor this initial phase to ensure stability and safety were maintained.
A smoke-free policy will be implemented in all prisons in Wales - Cardiff, Parc, Swansea and Usk/Prescoed - from January 2016, and at four English prisons - Exeter, Channings Wood, Dartmoor and Erlestoke - from March 2016.
Smoking is currently allowed only in prison cells and exercise yards, but the government eventually intends to ban smoking in all 136 prisons in England and Wales to reduce health risks.
'Difficult thing'
The move follows a series of legal challenges by prison officers and inmates who have complained about the effects of passive smoking.
Decisions which affect conditions inside prison have to be carefully considered so as not to put stability and security at risk - never more so than with the government's move to make prisons smoke-free, as an estimated 80% of inmates are smokers.
Take away one of the few things that prisoners are legally allowed to do and it could lead to a riot. That's why the Ministry of Justice has adopted a phased approach to the smoking ban, starting with the introduction of e-cigarettes, and have promised support to inmates who give up the habit.
Ministers also hope that by banning smoking in a group of neighbouring jails, it'll make prisoners pining for a cigarette less likely to agitate for a move, as they'd have to travel a long way to find a jail where it's still allowed.
Nevertheless, prison governors and managers will be crossing their fingers when the bans come into effect, hoping there's little unrest.
) 
Comment