XN000022-1982-03-12 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1982

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ON YOUNG OFFENDERS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 21, MR GARNER REVEALED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE DAILY AVERAGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONS IN 1981, BEING 22 PER CENT MORE THAN 1980. HE SAID, HOWEVER, IT IS HEARTENING TO NOTE THAT THE HANDLING OF THIS CATEGORY OF OFFENDERS IS PROVING SUCCESSFUL.

+THE SUCCESS OF THE DETENTION PROGRAMME IS ALL TOO WELL-KNOWN AND AS A RESULT OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAINING CENTRE PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG MALE OFFENDERS, WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN INCREASING THE SUCCESS RATE FROM 53 PER CENT TO 62 PER CENT WHICH IS DETERMINED AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR AFTERCARE SUPERVISION PERIOD.+

HE ALSO MENTIONED THE INCREASING ROLE THAT WOMEN ARE PLAYING IN THE SERVICE.

+TODAY. DESPITE THE FACT THAT FEMALE PRISONERS ONLY ACCOUNT FOR 3.5 PER CENT OF THE PENAL POPULATION, THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN THE SERVICE IS NOW SOME 13.5 PER CENT, HE SAID,

+THEY DO MUCH VALUABLE WORK IN VISIT ROOMS ASSISTING WIVES AND CHILDREN OF PRISONERS DURING VISITS, IN AFTERCARE UNITS, IN CONTROL CENTRES AND IN ADMINISTRATION.

TURNING TO PRISON INDUSTRIES, MR GARNER SAID THAT IT WAS MOST ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE IN THE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT OF PRISON LABOUR WHICH NOW SERVES THE COMMUNITY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. PRISON INDUSTRIES PROVIDED GOODS AND SERVICES AMOUNTING TO SOME $47.5 MILLION IN 1981, HE ADDED.

THIS INCLUDES THE MANUFACTURING OF TRAFFIC SIGNS, MAKING CONCRETE KERBSTONES, MAINTENANCE OF THE BORDER FENCES, THE MANUFACTURING OF SHOES, UNIFORMS AND LAUNDERING, PARTICULARLY FOR HOSPITALS.

+THE DEPARTMENT NOW UNDERTAKES WORK FOR MOST GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HE ADDED.

IN TODAY'S CEREMONY, MR GARNER PRESENTED FIRST AND SECOND CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO 20 OFFICERS FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICE.

THE RECIPIENTS, INCLUDING THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MR CHAN WA-SHEK, HAVE TOGETHER SERVED 526 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

ON PARADE WERE 205 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IN SEVEN CONTINGENTS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT COMMANDED BY THE PRINCIPAL OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE, MR JOHN ASHWORTH.

OF THEM, 57 WERE NEW RECRUITS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR SIX MONTHS' BASIC TRAINING.

THE GIRL PIPERS AND MARCHING TEAM OF THE TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION GAVE PERFORMANCES AT THE CEREMONY WHILE THE BAND OF CAPE COLLINSON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION PROVIDED MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.

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