A PRISON worker was arrested on suspicion of drug-dealing yesterday morning, Tuesday.

Searches were carried out at the staff member's workplace, HMP Hindley, a property in Golborne and a vehicle with a quantity of suspected class A and class B drugs found by police.

The employee- a woman in her 30s- was also taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.

The arrest follows a joint operation between Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and TITAN (North West Regional Organised Crime Unit) into corruption in prisons across the North West.

Detective Sergeant John Davies, of TITAN’s Prison Investigation Unit, said: “This arrest follows a three-month investigation into corruption within prisons across the North West and has only been made possible with the support of staff at HMP Hindley.

“While we have made an arrest, I must stress that our investigation does not stop here and we will continue with our enquiries."

The worker remains in police custody.

Stuart Nicholson, Security Governor at HMP Hindley, said: “Corruption of any kind will never be tolerated in our prisons.

"This arrest forms part of an ongoing investigation and we will continue to work with TITAN and help them with their enquiries.”