XN000022-1977-01-14 — Page 6

UN

FRIDAY, JANUARY

*977

+

+BUT THE EFFECT OF THE LONGER SENTENCES NOW BEING IMPOSED FOR MAJOR CRIME HAS BEEN THAT THE NUMBER OF LONG TERM PRISONERS IN CUSTODY HAS CONTINUED TO RISE AND SO THE DEMANDS ON PRISONS STAFF WILL NOT DIMINISH,

+THERE HAS BEEN AN INTENSIFIED PROGRAMME OF STAFF TRAINING WHICH, TOGETHER WITH STAFF INCREASES HAS PRODUCED A HIGH STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

+ I CONGRATULATE THE SERVICE ON THE FACT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME ON RECORD THERE HAVE BEEN NO ESCAPES FROM ANY PRISON, EITHER CLOSED OR OPEN, AND THE ESCAPES FROM OTHER MINIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS IS THE LOWEST IN 20 YEARS.

+OBVIOUSLY, GREATER VIGILANCE, IMPROVED SECURITY MEASURES AND THE SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION AND CATEGORISATION OF PRISONERS HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE IMPROVED RESULTS.

+THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN ENCOURAGING RESULTS FROM YOUR MEASURES TO DEAL WITH ATTEMPTS BY PRISONERS IN INSTITUTIONS TO ENGAGE IN TRIAD ACTIVITY, TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF DRUG USE AMONGST INMATES, AND IN THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTION.

+ THE EXPANSION OF PRISON INDUSTRIES NOW BEING PLANNED WILL NOT ONLY SAVE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, BUT IMPROVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE IN CUSTODY TO ACQUIRE SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT ON THE IR RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY.

+ I AM DELIGHTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE SUCH GOOD PROGRESS DURING THIS YEAR AND I AM SURE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTA IN THE HIGH STANDARDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SET AND WHICH YOU SHOULD STRIVE TO IMPROVE.

+ ISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS DURING THE COMING YEAR.+

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