Surveillance Cameras to Be Installed in Correctional Facilities

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says surveillance cameras are to be installed in correctional facilities.

He made the disclosure during an emergency press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday (August 12).

“We have just concluded a contract to introduce a camera system, a more extensive system, in the correctional facilities and build out the intelligence service within there,” Dr. Chang stated.

He advised that a new Commissioner of Corrections, who has extensive experience in security, has been appointed and “will be working with the entire correctional services to, in fact, strengthen our intelligence product from the area and apply the law as required”.

The buildout of the surveillance infrastructure in the prisons is expected to complement changes made to the Corrections (Amendment) Act in 2021.

These amendments facilitated tighter control of prohibited articles being transported in and out of correctional facilities.

The legislation also covers a number of additional offences, including having access to, and use or possession of an electronic communication device or computer in a correctional institution; tampering with any electronic communication device or computer by an inmate; and an inmate transmitting or causing data to be transmitted, using an electronic communication device or computer, without authorisation.

Other offences include an inmate intercepting or causing the interception of any function of an electronic communication device or computer; the use of a computer or electronic communication device by an individual to prejudice the safety or security of any person inside or outside a correctional centre, the safe custody or security of an inmate, or the good order or security of a correctional centre; and unauthorised access to, or use or possession of a prohibited article in a correctional institution.

The emergency press conference was held in the aftermath of a gun attack at Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon on August 11, during which eight persons were killed and nine injured.

It was disclosed during the press briefing that persons overseas, others incarcerated, as well as multiple gangs, were reportedly connected to the killings.