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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1978
PRISON RULES EXPLAINED
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THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO ABUSE OF POWER BY OFFICERS IN THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT AND THAT THERE ARE ADEQUATE CHANNELS, FOR PRISONERS AS WELL AS PRISON STAFF, TO LODGE LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. LYDIA DUNN AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. DAVIES SAID THE SAFEGUARDS ARE INCLUDED IN ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS AND STATUTORY PROVISIONS.
UNDER THE PRISON RULES, HE SAID: IT IS AN OFFENCE AGAINST DISCIPLINE FOR ANY PRISONS OFFICER DELIBERATELY TO ACT IN A MANNER CALCULATED TO PROVOKE A PRISONER, OR WITHOUT NECESSITY TO USE FORCE IN DEALING WITH PRISONERS, OR WHERE THE USE OF FORCE IS NECESSARY TO USE UNDUE FORCE.+
HE ADDED THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THESE RULES WERE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF NEWLY APPOINTED OFFICERS IN THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTION AND AT REGULAR INTERVALS AFTER THEIR POSTING.
EVERY PRISONER, ONCE ADMITTED TO A PRISON, WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE AVENUES THROUGH WHICH HE MAY MAKE REQUESTS OR LODGE COMPLAINTS, MR. DAVIES SAID.
→PRISONERS CAN BRING THEIR GRIEVANCES TO THE ATTENTION OF SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE INSTITUTION CONCERNED VERBALLY OR IN WRITTING AT ANY TIME, TO SENIOR OFFICERS FROM HEADQUARTERS ON THEIR FREQUENT BUT IRREGULAR MONITORING VISITS.
TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS
IN PERSON AND TO VISITING JUSTICES OF THE PEACE DURING THE IR FORTNIGHTLY VISITS, HE POINTED OUT.
HE ADDED THAT UNDER PRISON RULES, THE DUTY IS IMPOSED ON VISITING JUSTICES TO HEAR AND INVESTIGATE ANY COMPLAINT MADE TO THEM AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL ABUSES IN CONNECTION WITH A PRISON WHICH COME TO THEIR NOTICE ARE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSIONER
IMMEDIATELY.+
PRISONS SERVICE STAFF MAY LODGE COMPLAINTS OR TAKE UP THEIR GRIEVANCES EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING AT INSTITUTIONAL OR PRISONS HEADQUARTERS LEVEL, MR. DAVIES SAID.
+ INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE STAFF MAY ALSO AT ANY TIME ASK TO SEE A SUPERIOR OFFICER AND, IF NECESSARY, PURSUE A REQUEST TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS HIMSELF,+ HE SAID.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MISS DUNN CONCERNING THE CAUSES OF THE RECENT HUNGER STRIKE BY PRISONERS IN MA PO PING PRISON, MR. DAVIES SAID AN ENQUIRY CONDUCTED BY A SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT SHOWED NO CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE REASONS FOR THE INCIDENT.
R. DAVIES