Prison tuck shop prices have been “substantially reduced”, six months after an investigation by Times of Malta.

Mid-Dlam Għad-Dawl yesterday welcomed the sharp drop in prices from the only shop accessible to prisoners.

Last December, Times of Malta found that tuck shop items cost up to 88 per cent more than at supermarkets.

For example, a bottle of Dove shower cream cost €2.28 in two major supermarkets but €3.54 in prison. A pack of 200 cotton buds cost inmates €1.21 while their relatives on the outside can buy them for as little as 90c.

Times of Malta had also discovered that, despite the inflated prices and the monopoly it enjoyed, the tuck shop lost money in 2008 and only returned a slim profit in 2011 and 2012.

The incoming Home Affairs Minister, Manuel Mallia, last April called for a thorough audit of the tuck shop.

His ministry promised to overhaul the system as part of a wider reform in prison.

Dr Mallia welcomed the reduction in prices and was satisfied with the immediate action taken by the new prison director who was conducting a thorough reform.

“This Government expects the highest level of discipline among prisoners to reform themselves.

“For this to happen, it is not acceptable for there to be abuse among those who run the prison or offer services to prisoners,” the minister added.

Mid-Dlam Għad-Dawl, an NGO that promotes inmates’ causes, said yesterday it had been complaining about the situation for years and, before the election, had asked both political parties to remedy the situation.

Now, the NGO said, a bottle of water that used to cost 51c could be bought for 35c and other reductions ranged from 2c to 90c.

“This and other initiatives being taken promise well for the changes that are required for the prison to one day be truly able to call itself a correctional facility,” the NGO said.