XN000022-1982-10-03 — Page 4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1982

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LEARNING TRADES IN PRISON

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THE VALUE OF SERVICES AND GOODS PRODUCED THROUGH THE USE OF PRISON LABOUR REACHED A RECORD HIGH OF $47.49 MILLION LAST YEAR.

AFTER DEDUCTION OF COSTS OF PRODUCTION MATERIALS, WAGES AND DEPRECIATION, THE SERVICES BROUGHT ABOUT SAVINGS OF $26.2 MILLION IN TAX PAYERS' MONEY.

MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR CONVERTING PRISONERS INTO PRODUCTIVE WORKERS AND DILIGENT TRAINEES IS DUE TO AN ACTIVE PROGRAMME OF

INVOLVING THEM IN PURPOSEFUL WORK.

MR TERRY COLLINSON, GENERAL MANAGER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES (CSI), SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT EVERY PRISONER IS REQUIRED TO WORK, OR IS GIVEN SPECIAL TRAINING, UNLESS HE IS FOUND TO BE MEDICALLY UNFIT. BUT EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ASSIGN WORK COMPATIBLE WITH HIS SKILL, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND INTEREST.

EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN LIEU OF WORK ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOUNG OFFENDERS AND TO CERTAIN ADULTS WHOSE NEEDS ARE JUDGED TO BE BEST MET IN THIS WAY.

THE TRAINING GREATLY ENHANCES A PRISONER'S EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY UPON HIS DISCHARGE, ACCORDING TO MR COLLINSON,

AMONG THE MORE SUCCESSFUL COURSES ARE RADIO AND TV SERVICING, PRINTING, VEHICLE REPAIRING, HAIRDRESSING, BOOK-BINDING, CARPENTRY AND GARMENT-MAKING.

STANDARDS FOR SOME OF THESE COURSES ARE COMPARABLE TO THOSE IN CONVENTIONAL TRAINING COLLEGES. IN FACT, FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS A NUMBER OF YOUNG PRISONERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED DISTINCTIONS+ AND CREDITS+ IN THE FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION OF A BRITISH PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE.

AT THE END OF 1981, APPROXIMATELY 80 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL PENAL POPULATION OF 6 950 WERE PURPOSEFULLY EMPLOYED AND THE BALANCE COMPRISED THOSE ON INDUCTION AND THOSE WHO WERE SICK OR ON REMAND.

THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF $47.49 MILLION OF THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES LAST YEAR COMPARED WITH $18 MILLION IN 1978 WHEN CSI STARTED AN EXPANSION PROGRAMME TO ENCOURAGE A MORE COMMERCIALLY ORIENTATED APPROACH TO THEIR WORK.

VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE GOODS AND SERVICES PRODUCED ARE TAKEN UP BY GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS.

THE OPENING OF THE NEW MULTI-STOREY PIK UK LAUNDRY LAST YEAR HAS ENABLED CSI TO HANDLE A LARGE VOLUME OF WORK REQUIRED BY SEVERAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS. THE LAUNDRY OPERATES ON A SINGLE SHIFT AT PRESENT BUT WILL START A SECOND SHIFT LATER THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE PRINCE OF MALES HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN WHEN IT OPENS.

/LAUNDRY SERVIJES