Presentation to Portfolio Committee on

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Presentation to Portfolio Committee on
Management of Security incidences 5 June
2007
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What is this presentation is about and areas that
will be covered

• The definition of security and the
  responsibilities of Correctional Services to the
  public,
• Analysis of the security threats, trends and
  incidences related thereto,
• Current policies and guidelines for management of
  security breaches,
• Post Incident Management and other Measures ,
• Challenges and Way Forward.

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What is Security for DCS and areas are covered

• On overall DCS security operations seeks to
  provide a safe and healthy conditions for all
  persons incarcerated, consistent with human
  dignity, and thereby enhancing security for
  personnel and the public
• Correctional services is part of the government
  wide security establishment

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What is Security for DCS and areas are covered

• We view ourselves as a government agency charged
  with rehabilitation of offenders but with
  security influences
• Our primary objective is to provide security to
  the public, protect our staff, provide protection
  and safety to inmates and services providers and
  stakeholders

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What are the current security threats and
elements thereof

• Changing profile of crime in the country points
  towards decreasing trends, however,
• trends that remains high involve sophisticated
  syndicates
• This increases unpredictable ATD population and
  increases our maximum security inmates
• In many instances our staff are not ready and are
  vulnerable to corruption temptations

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What are the current security threats and
elements thereof

• Our facilities are old and not responsive to new
  threads
• Rapid process of staffing present challenges of
  personnel readiness
• Delays in technology investments generated slow
  response to the changing environment
• Increasing ATD population increases vulnerability
  in our operations
• Inadequate systems for information sharing
  between agencies
• Overcrowding

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What are the critical security indicators for DCS

• Escapes
• Number of maximum security sentenced and awaiting
  trail
• Inmates to inmates assaults
• Inmates to staff assaults
• Staff to inmates assaults
• Inmates to service provider assaults
• Unnatural deaths

There are instances of under-reporting
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Trends of escape in DCS over the last 10 years
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Where and why are these escapes

• In excess of 50 of these escapes take place from
  within the correctional centres,
• Almost above 90 of these are ATDs
• In other instances ATDs escape from hospitals and
  courts
• The remaining percentage is medium to low
  security sentenced inmates from work teams and
  those transported to hospitals

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Comparative analysis between various inmate
categories
52
48
56
52
44
48

• For the year 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 the
  largest number of escapees were Awaiting
• Trial Detainees (ATDs)
• In 2006/2007 this trend was turned around with
  52 escapees being sentenced inmates
• The turn-around is contributed to the strong
  emphasis placed on ATDs in Departmental Escape
• Prevention Strategies

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The trends in other categories of security risks
Note Statistics for 2006/2007 only available up
to 28 Feb 2007
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The trends in other categories of security risks
Note Statistics for 2006/2007 only available up
to 28 Feb 2007
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The trends in other categories of security risks
Note Statistics for 2006/2007 only available up
to 28 Feb 2007
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The trends in other categories of security risks
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What are the contributory factors

• Staff retaliation against provocation
• Gang related activities
• Change management problems in relation to staff
  (slow paradigm shift)
• Inmates interfering with normal operations
• Inmates violating the security measures
• Use of undue force violating existing policies
• Negligence and non-compliance with policies
• Changing profile of inmate population

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Minimum Security Standards
• Personnel measures
• Technology measures
• Information measures
• Physical measures
• Operational measures
• Management supervision

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Personnel
• Increased the staff complement by est. new 10000
  entry level employees
• Provision of security training to EST staff in
  co-operation with the with SAPS and NIA
• vetting of staff and internal capacity
• Improving remuneration
• Corruption prevention and investigation

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Technology
• Installation of CCTV camera in 66 centres
• Installation of walk through metal detectors in
  66 centres, movement control and scanners
• Motion detector fencing at 47 centres
• An amount R100 million allocated for rollout of
  security equipment in the next 3 years

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Technology
• Use of two way radios
• Biometric fingerprinting systems
• Bullet proof vests for female officials
• Inmate tracking
• Video postponement

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Physical Measures
• Improved Security fencing
• Boom gates and spikes
• Improved access control
• Upgrading and renovation of facilities
• Extension and building of new facilities

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Operational Measures
• Operation Vala
• Coordinated movement of inmates between DCS and
  other security agencies
• Improved sharing of information with other
  security agencies

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Operational Measures
• MATD project
• Agreements with hospitals
• Offender clothing
• Special projects in identified centres
  (Johannesburg, Middledrift, Pollsmoor)

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Information
• Sharing of information with other security
  agencies
• Vetting of official
• Improved information collection

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The current DCS policies addressing the problems

• Management
• Middle and Junior Management tailor made training
• Procurement of senior management training
• Inspection and security audits
• Post incident review mechanism
• Training in conflict management
• Timeous debriefing of inmates and staff

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What are protocols for handling security
incidents

• Head of the Correctional Centre must report the
  incident to the Area Commissioner within one hour
  of the incident.
• Area Commissioner reports telephonically to the
  Regional Commissioner, Regional Head Corrections
  and Regional Head Communications.
• Regional Commissioner must inform the National
  Commissioner within an hour upon receipt of the
  information.

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What are protocols for handling security
incidents

• Area Commissioner must ensure that a preliminary
  investigation is conducted within 24 hours.
• Matter must be reported to the SAPS within 24
  hours.
• A full internal investigation report must be
  launched and finalised within 21 working days
  from the date of the incident.

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The post incident review mechanism

• A system of peer review mechanism has been
  adopted and is currently piloted in Gauteng
  region.
• The Mechanism entails the establishment of a team
  of senior officials who should make an assessment
  and report on the following
• - Whether all investigation recommendations
  have been implemented in terms of addressing the
  identified shortcomings and the taking of
  corrective actions.
• - To report to the Regional Commissioner on
  progress made as well as any outstanding matters.

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Other measures

• Communication with staff and inmates
• Compliance Improvement Plan
• Procurement of new ammunition
• ORP processes
• Social Reintegration

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What are the Challenges and Way forward

• Development and implementation of 5 Year Security
  Plan
• Conduct Threat Risk assessment to inform vetting
  processes
• Amendment Bill
• MATD
• Building capacity for post incident staff support

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What are the Challenges and Way forward

• Rollout video postponement in 17 Correctional
  centres covering 40 courts
• Finalise and implement Anti-Gang Strategy
• Build capacity for implementation of OHSA
• Rollout of inmate tracking and identification
  verification system

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Thank you An age of hope, a national
effort for corrections, rehabilitation and social
integration