Heightened security measures are on the cards for His Majesty’s Prison.
The addition of CCTV cameras, bag scanners and other electronic devices form part of measures that Superintendent of Prisons Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Pennyfeather revealed will soon come on stream.
The cameras were secured through the assistance of telecommunications company, Digicel and have already been installed around the premises.
“We have some phone jammers and we are currently testing them to augment what we already have in place. We also have metal detectors that are on order. We are in discussions with the Airport Authority as well to assist us with a baggage scanner because as you are aware many family members, friends bring a lot of things into the prison and we have to ensure that those things that are coming are sterile and that no contraband is brought in. That still remains a challenge for us,” Pennyfeather explained.
During an operation conducted earlier this month, police and prison officers confiscated a number of items to include PlayStation consoles, speaker boxes, and high-end cellphones.
Among the list of contraband found by the lawmen were 24 cellular phones, one PS3, 66 lighters, two electric kettles, 14 speaker boxes, 15 metal forks, 14 metal spoons, a quantity of nails, 70 grams of cannabis, eight grams of crack/cocaine, a quantity of hashish, a quantity of tobacco, five nail clippers, 10 pairs of scissors, a quantity of electrical components, phone chargers and mirrors.
In terms of physical security, the completion of the watch towers, additional lighting and additional officers have also been looked at.
The conditions at the prison have long been called into question as over the years there has been a number of break outs.
The most recent taking place late last year where a Villa man Josh Joyce reportedly scaled the prison walls after having been on remand.
The CCTV cameras captured him making his escape on December 8.
He was later recaptured.
According to Lieutenant Pennyfeather refresher training and the addition of 30 new officers were matters discussed with government and a commitment has been made for these measures to get underway in the first quarter of this year.
“I would expect they would be made available to me for final interview within the next four to six weeks,” Pennyfeather said.
The overcrowding at the country’s lone correctional institution is a matter that has been at the forefront of discussions for years.
Government had made declarations about the establishment of a new prison but recent conversations with the National Security Minister Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin has divulged that the focus will be on retrofitting HMP.
