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Minister gives a glimpse of report into prisons

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Minister Kim Wilson

Justice Minister Kim Wilson has given a “snapshot” of issues raised by an independent review of the Island’s prisons, which will “pave the way for a five-year strategic plan”.Citing security concerns, Senator Wilson said it would not be appropriate to reveal the report in full.However, she listed the main areas of focus as: security, maintenance and upkeep, management and administration, staffing and manpower levels, and “officer and inmate incidences”.The review was carried out by Phil Wheatley, Director General of the UK’s National Offender Management Services, following an agreement in August, 2011 by then-Justice Minister Michael Scott with the Prison Officers Association (POA).POA head Craig Clarke called repeatedly for an investigation, as officers complained about dangerous work conditions and security breaches in the Island’s prisons. The group demonstrated outside Cabinet in March, demanding to know when the review would be conducted.Mr Wheatley’s report was handed to Government on June 4.In a joint press statement yesterday with Mr Clarke, Sen Wilson praised the POA chairman as “a fierce advocate on behalf of his members” — but added that the study was not “solely driven by the POA’s concerns”.Mr Clarke yesterday said: “I have always maintained that the POA welcomed a comprehensive review of the prison system.“We all recognise that there are issues of mutual concern that need our attention and focus, and it is our goal to work together with the Minister to ensure that those concerns are adequately addressed.”Sen Wilson said that, so far, a number of the prison officers’ grievances had been addressed.Fencing has been completed around maximum security units, she said, while the Co-Ed Facility has a new CCTV system.Commissioner of Corrections Edward Lamb has also set up a Security Review Committee within the Department.Sen Wilson said a five-year plan for the Department would cover “all aspects of policy, management, operations, infrastructure and legislative reform”.Useful websites: www.justice.gov.uk, www.gov.bm.

(Photo by Glenn Tucker)The sun begins to set on the Westgate Correctional facility barbed wire fence.