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PUBLIC ORDER
All persons discharged from a treatment centre are supervised by Prisons Depart- ment staff for a year. Those considered to be still in need of close support or who need help in resuming a full life in the community, may be required to live in a half- way house named New Life House as a condition of the supervision order.
Prison Industries
Prison industries play an important role in rehabilitation. The articles produced meet the needs of government and government-subvented organisations, and bring about a saving in government expenditure. Some $14.9 million worth of items were made in 1977, compared with the $5 million worth produced in 1970. As an interim measure, $1.4 million is being spent on expanding prison industries. Plans for a full-scale expansion are at an advanced stage and the creation of the post of general manager is an important step in this direction. With the necessary input of capital and manage- ment resources, prison industries are expected to be producing items worth $26 million by 1980.___
Aftercare
Aftercare is provided under three ordinances and is carried out by Prisons Department officers. It plays a key role in rehabilitating inmates of treatment, training and deten- tion centres. Aftercare begins soon after an inmate is admitted to a centre, when mutual trust and respect is fostered between the case worker and his client. If neces- sary, an aftercare officer can recommend the recall of an inmate for further training
or treatment.
Staff Training
The Staff Training Institute at Stanley provides 12 months' orientation training for newly-recruited officers and assistant officers. The course includes periods of field training and introduces trainees to all aspects of correctional work. An intermediate examination, followed by a passing-out parade, mark the completion of six months' basic training. An advanced examination is held at the end of the course. Other short orientation courses are held periodically for specialist staff.
Many different types of development courses also are conducted. These include a middle-management course to prepare principal officers for managerial roles; senior officers' seminars that provide opportunities for views to be exchanged on specially-selected aspects of the duties of chief officers and superintendents; and special courses for staff being posted to institutions with specialised functions, such as treatment or detention centres, or for those required to perform aftercare and security duties. All prisons staff attend refresher course every two years.
Fire Services
During 1977, the Fire Services Department dealt with a record 175,688 emergencies – 11,082 fires, 160,562 ambulance calls and 4,044 special service calls. The number of fires represented an 18 per cent increase over 1976. Calls for ambulance and special services also went up by 10 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
Fires caused 47 deaths and injured 700 people, including 53 members of the depart- ment. In addition, 540 people were rescued by firemen. This figure did not include several hundred more led to safety by fire personnel.