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 inside buildings at 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.
Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said implementing smoke-free prisons was a "difficult thing to do" given the high prevalence of smoking and the "unique environment" of prisons, but the ban was necessary due to the UK's smoking legislation and for health reasons.
"We have no plans to move to smoke-free prisons overnight and will only do so in a phased way that takes into account operational resilience and readiness of each prison," he said.
"The operational safety and security of our prisons will always be our top priority."
A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "Implementation will be phased over a long period in order to make these changes safely. Prisoners will have access to e-cigarettes and other support to stop smoking."
Other countries, including Canada and New Zealand, had already made this transition successfully, she added.
The Prison Governors Association welcomed the announcement "for a managed approach to the roll-out of smoke-free prisons".
Peter Dawson, from the Prison Reform Trust, said a "sensible approach to smoking in prisons would leave prisoners with a choice - at least to smoke outside".
"If that is to be denied to them, there has to be proper support while people give up - not just smoking cessation aids, but increased vigilance for signs of distress that could easily turn into self-harm or worse," he said.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said tobacco was an "emotional prop" for inmates, and prisons would have to give them a lot of extra support, such as free patches and extra access to exercise and activities.
The Welsh government had launched a consultation about creating designated smoking cells for a 12-month trial period, and a spokesman said it would keep it open "should there be any delay" in implementing the ban.
The Scottish Prison Service said it aimed to have plans in place by December 2015 on how indoor smoke-free prison facilities would be delivered.
But the Northern Ireland Department of Justice said it had no plans to change the current rules, under which smoking is permitted in prison cells and certain open spaces.
Making crims suffer
Making crims suffer
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Making crims suffer
An interesting social experiment. Bound to be a difficult transition.
We don't allow prisoners to drink or use heroin so why do we have to allow them to smoke?
yrs,
rubato
We don't allow prisoners to drink or use heroin so why do we have to allow them to smoke?
yrs,
rubato
Re: Making crims suffer
We banned smoking on all hospital premises and properties here, including the psychiatric wards, (locked wards too.)
Big upset at first, but seems to be working now.
Big upset at first, but seems to be working now.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Making crims suffer
Amazing, isn't it? Change can happen quickly when we get over the idea that it is impossible.
yrs,
rubato
yrs,
rubato