HMP neglected for years! Security very poor, prison review finds
An independent review of operations at His Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut has returned a scathing report about security at facility.
This is according to Governor John Rankin who shares joint responsibility for the prison with the territory’s Minister of Health & Social Development.
The group who conducted the Prison Security Review, which happened under the direction of the National Security Council, consisted of four members. They included the Superintendent of His Majesty’s Prison in Anguilla and two former Chief Inspectors of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.
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 morale of staff was very low,” the Governor stated.
He further said the review made more than 50 recommendations that covered security and repairs, prison operations, procurement, staffing and oversight, as well as rehabilitation.
Rankin also indicated that a Prison Security Review Implementation Committee was established to roll out the recommendations. This committee, which will be co-chaired by the Governor and the Minister of Health & Social Development, currently meets monthly and meets with the co-chairs quarterly.
Prison officers get training, body cams
In giving an update on the changes made so far, the governor said, “a number of urgent repairs have been carried out at the prison, and CCTV is being installed.”
“The UK deployed three UK prison officers for three months to HMP Balsam Ghut, who helped the Superintendent write and update operating procedures. The UK has also provided a range of new equipment, including mattresses, prisoner uniforms, handcuffs, and other basic essentials; as well as body worn cameras and training for staff on how to use them,” Rankin added.
He continued: “The Ministry of Health and Social Development has completed urgent security repairs at the prison and provided some infrastructure upgrades. In September, a senior former UK Prison Governor arrived in BVI for six months. He is working alongside the Prison Superintendent to help implement the remaining recommendations, together with the Prison Security Review Implementation Committee.”
The Governor gave that indication on Tuesday in his first quarterly review of the ‘Framework for Implementation of the Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report and Other Reforms’.
This review has been sent to ministers in the UK for consideration. He promised to hold a press conference once he receives their response.
Over the years, the Balsam Ghut-based prison has seen a variety of contraband smuggled into the facility and has been faced with issues of stabbings — one fatal, as well as serious staffing issues as it relates to manpower and inappropriate conduct of officers. One ex-con disclosed to BVI News that select inmates were inconspicuously made to leave the prison for minutes to hours at a time at the pleasure of prison officers.
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the prison while repairing the neglected buildings, fences, equipment, etc. Large number of white collar criminals about to be incarcerated there for corruption, breach of trust, theft of public funds, etc. when the CoI investigations conclude next year.
We hear all about the security what about the living conditions of the prisoners, the water supply, the medical necessities for prisoners with chronic illness, the programs to enhance the prisoners’ and get them ready for when they come out in the real world. all the concern on security what about the prisoners they are still human. they are someone father, mother, daughter, son, cousin, uncle, aunt. you cannot be still treating them inhumanly. No one stands up for the prisoners.
Of course cause all the males are interested in sleeping with their female coworkers. And want to walk around like he’s so high and mighty.
Who is this buddy?
@ concerned.. I know they didn’t go all into the dtails but I saw matress.. So thats a good start.. You know its a hotel at that place.. I having had a family member go to the prisoner for about 3 months never heard them complain about the living conditions.. They seemed to be just fine and just locked away for a little.. You have to encourage them to not want to be there.. So it can not be as if they were just stuck at home!… Yes make sure they have healthy food, clean drinking & washing water as they are still human but thats that.. All what I read otherwise is perfect. It was about time.. Now with prison uniforms they will feel where they are!…
@oncerned you forgot to mention programs to occupy their time. The devil plays with idle hands.
Just like all of the government owned properties. No maintenance at all. The mentality here is just let it detoriate and we’ll tear it down and build another, filling the pockets of thieves and politicains
Can we get a review on EVERY public school in the Territory too please.
it’s a darn prison! don’t like it? you’re not supposed to. Let those on the outside do their best to avoid going to a place that was published as a “ hotel” it’s good to have a prison back in motion.
The one from Sugar City that they found out was sleeping with one of the females in the office,but they never fired him. He’s always bad talking those above him cause he feel he is more qualified and can do better, but He’s bitter cause he is an expat.
Is the governor forgetting that Governors are responsible for security at the Prisons? Is he trying to escape blame and blame the local politicians again?
“Wooooo look where the BVI gone….”
Majority of them there are expats. Why would they fire the officers if there is no rule against that behavior. Hmmm, they are both adults so they fully aware what they are doing.
It’s amazing how people skirt around the issues and truth in the BVI.
There never seems to be self examination or introspection in this country – that’s one big BVI challenge .
Why must someone always come here to tell us we are not doing well enough ?
All these bi—annual consultancies and no goddam enforcement.
-Inept and impotent prison leaders waiting for pensions.
-Government administrators who always seem to ‘know there are issues ‘ but can never attach them – ever.
Many of us worked on the construction of what was called and used by immigration as an Immigration Detention Center ( look in the prison logs and see it’s called the IDC) yet we hear about the need to build one. Many officers worked there guarding immigration detainees yet now it only houses the prison Overflow. Call a spade a spade .
Not one MS in this country can stay that what it is . Fix , augment t it rebuild the goddam prison.
The prison entrance door handle was broken for about 2 years – no F…..sense but it happened- the one where you would erstwhile enter , close electronically before opening the secondary one with the physical key ? That one basic security feature ? Non existent . All the while e baddest prisoner was just inside that gate meeting and greeting relatives during visitation .
Anyone can. Get out of there whenever ready cause it’s a joke.
Some Officers forgiven for smuggling , pimping female inmates , stealing from /owing $$ to inmates while other officers disciplined for catching ride and being a little late for shift.
Ministry and Governor share blame but it’s not a prestige or money portfolio so anything goes .
Allyo MS in this country HATE the truth .
It’s amazing how people skirt around the issues and truth in the BVI.
There never seems to be self examination or introspection in this country – that’s one big BVI challenge .
Why must someone always come here to tell us we are not doing well enough ?
All these bi—annual consultancies and no goddam enforcement.
-Inept and impotent prison leaders waiting for pensions.
-Government administrators who always seem to ‘know there are issues ‘ but can never attack them – ever.
Many of us worked on the construction of what was called and used by immigration as an Immigration Detention Center and provided security INSIDE on behalf of the immigration department – I did . ( look in the prison logs and see it’s called the IDC) yet we hear about the need to build one. Many officers worked there guarding immigration detainees yet now it only houses the prison Overflow. Call a spade a spade .
Not one MS in this country can stay that what it is . Fix , augment t it rebuild the goddam prison.
The prison entrance door handle was broken for about 2 years – no F…..sense but it happened- the one where you would erstwhile enter , close electronically before opening the secondary one with the physical key ? That one basic security feature ? Non existent . All the while e baddest prisoner was just inside that gate meeting and greeting relatives during visitation .
Anyone can Get out of there whenever ready cause it’s a joke.
Some Officers forgiven for smuggling , pimping female inmates , stealing from /owing $$ to inmates while other officers disciplined for catching ride and being a little late for shift.
Ministry and Governor share blame but it’s not a prestige or money portfolio so anything goes .
Allyo MS in this country HATE the truth .
Shame on the governor. The failures of his portfolio are obvious but are largely ignored while they shine the spotlight in the other direction.
One of the things that will work for prison is EVERY INMATE SHOULD BE ISSUED A PRISON UNIFORM WHEN THEY ENTER THE PRISON UNTILL THEIR TIME OF RELEASE. YOU GOT INMATES WALKING AROUND LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO THE CLUB, GOLD CHAINS, ETC.. WHEN A INMATE ENTER THE PRISON SYSTEM, ALL OF THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS GOES INTO TO PROPERTY AND THEY ARE ISSUED A PRISON UNIFORM AND A PRISON NUMBER. YOU ALL SEE HOW IT WORKS, STOP PLAYING THE STUPID GAME. NO WONDER THE OUTSIDE SEE US AS FAILURES IN THE WAY WE DO THINGS. WE ARE SOOOOO DEEP IN THE WOODS. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO GET OUT OF THE WOODS?
Once you get locked up in prison your rights are gone are no longer a free person so dont come on here saying what about there this and that they had it when they were out they choose to give that up, you are now a property of the system. And for those that dont want to fall in line ship them out to the UK.
The Prison……What Prison…..8 million stories about the Prison….Its been neglected for years and corrupt officers are almost never punished, disciplined or fired.
I could never understand how inmates are allowed to wear regular street clothes and jewelry while being locked up. That is not a prison. The majority of the prison mall guards needs to be terminated, both male and female.All they do up there is sleep with each other.
this is not true. I am not sure where your evidence is bases upon, but as a human being you have Human Rights even after arrest, sentenced and incarcerated.
Prison system has the right to provide a clean, healthy environment , recreation with housing and medicine,
No surprise. Maintanance of anything is not generally a priority around here. Relevant to ask what is the per capita cost per year to keep someone at Ballo. Many people want harsh sentences for certain crimes, and perhaps deservedly so, but same tax payers have to pay for keeping convicts in prison. In the US, prison costs run about $20k/year/person for minimum security fo $80k/yeat/person for maximum security. If you go with $30K/year here, society is paying the equivalent of a govt salary to keep someone locked up.
What is the budget for prisons here? How many convicts do we have? Is the money it takes to keep someone imprisoned for minor offenses worth the cost it takes?
ONCE YOU GIVE UP YOUR FREEDOM,YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ANY TYPE OF HUMAN RIGHTS. WHAT ABOUT THEIR VICTIMS? WERE THEY SHOWN ANY TYPE OF HUMANITY WHEN THEY WERE KILLED? SIT THEIR BEHINDS IN A CELL FOR 23 HOURS A DAY AND LET THEM OUT FOR 1 HOUR TO GET SOME AIR. THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING BUT WALKING AROUND THE PRISON YARD LIKE ROACHES PLOTTING. FEED THEM A BOLOGNA SANDWICH, A PIECE OF FRUIT, SOME VEGETABLES, WATER/MILK AND SOME WATER OR LET THEIR FAMILIES FEED THEM. THAT WOULD BE A HUGE BREAK FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
Talk about how ex-pat workers at the prison are treated like crap while locals do whatever they want.
IF vU SO CONCERNED WHY DON’T YOU VOLUNTEER TO BE THE NEXT VICTIM SO N THAT WHEN THESE ANGELS DECIDE TO KILL SOMEONE LET THEM DO IT TO YOU INSTEAD OF SOME INNOCENT PERSON AND SIGN A PAPER NOT TO LOCK THEM UP BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BE RELIEVED OF YOUR MISERABLE LIFE . YOU HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR THEIR VICTIMS ONLY FOR THE KILLERS / HOPE TOU FEEL PROUD OF WHATEVER YOU ARE
How about prison reform for prisoners who committed petty crimes ? How are you going to help them build their way back into society ?
How are you using the time up there to help
Them recharge their thinking, their outlook
On life, repair them to become reform citzexns in the community . Only handcuff you can send
R* P*
Fix the Prison, F**K THE SCHOOLS! Excellent!
The prison is unfit for purpose in the 21st Century.
There is no meaningful segregation of categories of offender. The prison is overcrowded with no release valve. There is no privacy either for the prisoners or the staff who have to manage them. Staff facilities are non existent, no locker room, no shower or toilet facilities no staff dining or muster room so everyone is living on top of each other. In terms of staff where is the routine and ongoing training and development? There is no identifiable career structure with the opportunity for progression. In terms of prisoners where is the meaningful working day and daily routine? There is no proper assessment of offending behaviour and no subsequent offending behaviour programs which allow prisoners to understand their offending and engage in change. All of this costs money lots of money and it takes time to make these changes and see them through. Ultimately it’s a question of what do residents on the island want of their criminal justice system and what are politicians prepared to deliver. We can all talk about what’s needed but doing it…..?