Improvements promised after serious assaults on prison staff

A STRING of measures to protect prison staff have been promised following two serious assaults at Her Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk this June.

Riot gear, public order training, cell phone blocking equipment and group insurance, along with a full review of the prison system are all in the pipeline, the Government has said.

On June 3, an inmate wielding a plank of wood knocked a prison officer unconscious in an incident that was caught on camera and widely circulated on social media.

And on June 5 a prisoner threw items through the glass window of Prison Superintendent Grahame Hawkings’ office causing him to sustain a minor cut to his forehead.

A Government statement on Saturday (June 6) said the prison team spoke to Deputy Governor Anya Williams just a day before the second incident.

Along with management from the Ministry of Home Affairs which has responsibility for the prison they discussed their safety issues and concerns.

Williams told the prison team that protective gear has been ordered for officers and additional riot equipment has been sourced and is expected to arrive shortly.

The UK Security Assistance Team will deliver public order training this week, she added, which will further help to develop skills among prison officers.

In addition, group insurance will also be purchased for the coverage of incidents involving prison officers who are injured in the line of duty.

Minister with responsibility for the prison, Hon. Goldray Ewing, said: “We have many brave and caring prison officers, and we recognise and appreciate their hard work on behalf of our society.

“As a Government we stand firm in partnership with them and will continue to invest in and support the improvements at the prison, for the safety of all.”

The two recent incidents, while unrelated, were both symptoms of wider issues that the strategic planning group for the prison is working on, the statement said.

This group is headed by management of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Her Majesty’s Prison and the Royal TCI Police Force.

It will recommend to the Cabinet a full review of the prison to identify opportunities for improvement in the operations, skills and training for staff and infrastructure.

The group will also deliver essential training and skills development to prison staff and will undertake a review of the Prisons Ordinance to allow for more effective incident response.

An experienced training manager from the UK will arrive when international borders open at the end of July and will train a small additional prison officer tactical team.

A maximum-security wing is under construction now with projected completion within the year, as well as the additional fencing and lighting, the statement added.

A contract for cell phone blocking equipment has been signed and installation is due to begin in coming weeks.

“The ministry and management of the prison are confident that these measure, along with other key initiatives, will help to improve the overall security of the prison and the skills and confidence of the staff,” the statement said.