Prison tightening security, hiring a dozen officers
BVI News photograph of a prison officer.
Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut is seeking to tighten security.
Superintendent of the state-owned penitentiary David Foot told BVI News on Thursday that the prison is recruiting 12 additional staff to do just that.
“Some officers left the territory subsequent to the hurricanes, and the government has approved that we can have more officers. So the number of staff that we have will be going up,” he said.
A least two prison officers left the British Virgin Islands since, Foot said.
Learning from mistakes
The penitentiary has also been on the receiving end of negative attention, one of which was massive contraband discovery after the hurricanes.
Law enforcers discovered contraband such as cellular phones, alcohol, tobacco, offensive weapons, and a number of other illegal items.
Local police led the search with assistance from the United Kingdom military.
There was also a massive prison-break following the disasters.
Asked if those were some of the reasons behind bolstering security at the prison, Superintendent Foot said: “The reality is we have to learn from lessons of the past and put things in place to make sure that those things don’t happen again. And that’s what we are doing.”
He explained further that the new staff members will be used for “frontline security for the prisoners”.
“And so we are looking for some good quality candidates. There is a career in the prison service … opportunities for promotion and all the bits and pieces. So I am hoping that we can attract some candidates so that we can move things forward.”
The prison boss said recruits will undergo an eight-week training course at the Balsam Ghut facility.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Well it seems like things are still slack up there cause prisoners are still in possession of cell phones and are often on WhatsApp and other social media sites. I’m guessing if your momma works there and you’re incarcerated even if it’s for messing with underage girls, you’ll get whatever you want cause mommy is there to pamper you. I weep for my BVI
More outsiders? I hope not!
@fake news – actually they need outsiders so that there is no biase with local getting special privileges. When UK cops were here, there was more control as they had no relationships with anyone. They were here about order. I hope they recruit from the U.K to get some order at that prison.
Who should be fired first?
The m– — is completely useless- a poor choice from the UK
Well you just dont go up so your mam dont have to look for you go set your aaaa down
But, the corruption will still go on behind the prison walls. The change for the best will come when inmates stop having access to cell phones,What’s App,drugs, liquor and be issued prison uniforms with an inmate number.
What you know what take place in the man house look in your own house are just fast in people life and yours mess the hell up
I honestly don’t even know what you just said?
That happens a lot on this site.
I gave up trying to read what some people write here years ago and just try to glean the faintest morsel of logic or information from the posts. Anything else is just a stab in the dark.
Mr. Foot I hope give locals a chance to serve their country. It’s time bvislanders start to take their rightful place in all aspects of the society. And been marginalized by expats who get big jobs from government.
?What massive prison-break……….?
Make room for the gold chain wearing safe thief and his friends.