HM Prison to now get CCTV surveillance
A troubling review of security arrangements at His Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut has led to a suite of new features and upgrades being implemented at the institution.
According to a recent report issued by Governor John Rankin, the prison security review consisted of four members, including the superintendent of HM Prison Anguilla, and two former Chief Inspectors of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).
He said the review made more than 50 recommendations, covering security and repairs; prison operations; procurement; staffing and oversight; and rehabilitation. Governor Rankin said the objective was to conduct a comprehensive review of the security arrangements at the prison.
Repairs and upgrades
The report noted that, to date, several urgent security repairs have been carried out at the prison by the Ministry of Health and Social Development and closed-circuit TV (CCTV) is now being installed. It was noted that several other infrastructural upgrades have been put in place.
Governor Rankin noted in his report that the United Kingdom (UK) deployed three UK prison officers for three months to HM Prison, and they’ve helped the superintendent write and update the prison’s operating procedures.
The UK, he said, has also provided a range of new equipment, including mattresses, prisoner uniforms, handcuffs, and other essentials. This is inclusive of body-worn cameras for which staff training was offered.
Non-existent security
In the meantime, the prison review arrived at some damning conclusions about the state of affairs at the prison over the years.
According to the governor’s report, the review concluded that “the estate had been neglected for many years”, “physical security at the prison was poor”, procedural security was “virtually non-existent”, and the morale of staff was very low.
To implement the recommendations from the review, a Prison Security Review Implementation Committee was established and this was co-chaired by the governor, and the Minister for Health and Social Development, who both currently share responsibility for the prison.
In September, a senior former UK Prison Governor arrived in the BVI for six months and is now working alongside the territory’s Prison Superintendent to help implement the remaining recommendations, together with the Prison Security Review Implementation Committee.
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Wow…
5 star hotel has finally come to an end. That place has been slack for YEARS with prisoners being able to do as they please. It is very disturbing that the slackness was allowed for so long. Some of you can keep cursing the UK, but im happy that they’re helping to fix the slackness……imagine a prison with no CCTV CAMERAS smh…..no wonder the place is plagued with evil and corruption.
Ayo late as usual…3rd world
thats what happens when a local with no experience but a family name is put in charge…
So man had to come from England to point out simple stuff like hey install some cameras at the prison? Bofl
The Governor ( Present and Past) has oversight of prisons. Along with the Ministry of Health.
Yeah cause the male staff up there busy sleeping with their female coworkers lol so no cameras was better for them. The short baldhead from sugar city was sleeping with TWO of the women up there and he’s still working up there. Pure “duttiness” have been going on for TOO LONG.
R U jealous , the guy is straight AM sure pumpkin will entertain you and those like you ,
Dont talk about your mamá and pumpkin like that, its not nice???
@funny..How funnier can you get. Sounds like you have issues with who in charge.
That is the problem with this place, people in certain positions do whatever they want and people like you defend them. Why would anyone be jealous of his ….. Like really, that’s something to be jealous of???? Some of you are really fu@king sick and NASTY!!!
They didn’t have already? LOLOLOLOL this is not a real place.
this UK deal rt? wythefk is there no CCTV or similar in 2thousand fkn 22?? gov office. wake ass up
I mean like seriously? You would think that a prison would already have this in place. That explains why so much has been going on there.
The prison had cameras before and your incarcerated family mash them up.