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Stella Lee

Security measures are in the spotlight after the stabbing of Stanley Prison's chief

The Correctional Services Department is considering handcuffing high-risk inmates whenever they  come in contact with visitors or  other prisoners.

In effect, prisoners prone to violence could be handcuffed whenever they leave their cells.

The measures are being considered after the Stanley Prison chief was attacked by an inmate  armed with a makeshift knife during an interview with visiting Justices of the Peace on Monday.

Police are investigating the attack while the department has set up a taskforce to review security measures.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong yesterday condemned the  attack but  he believed the department could handle this type of incident.

Commissioner of Correctional Services Kelvin Pang Sung-yuen said the attack was an isolated case and  enough guards were present at the time of the incident. But a review would determine if any holes existed in security measures.

'I believe that after the review, we may introduce some special measures to handle them [high-risk inmates]. We'll not rule out using handcuffs,' Mr Pang said.

Ho Pui-lam,  chairman of Correctional Services Officers' Association (Junior Section), said its group supported the use of handcuffs on violence-prone prisoners when they were in contact with other people. Under prison rules,  a jail superintendent may use mechanical restraints on inmates under the instructions of a medical officer or to prevent escape during removal or to avoid prisoners from injuring themselves  or others.

'At present, handcuffs are mainly used during the removal of inmates or when there is immediate danger - meaning something has already happened and it's usually too late. That's why we recommend following the overseas example of handcuffing violence-prone inmates when they are in contact with a third party,' Mr Ho said.

He admitted he was concerned over the rising number of inmate attacks on officers. There were 40 such cases last year, 36 cases in 2002, 33 cases in 2001 and 37 cases in 2000.

The  attack  at Stanley Prison happened  about midday on Monday when a 43-year-old inmate, surnamed Ho, was taken to an interview room after he requested to meet the JPs.

Under prison rules, inmates have the right to see a visiting JP to air any complaints they may have. But it is understood that the attacker had not revealed the reasons for the meeting.

The inmate, who is serving a 38-year jail term for multiple offences, including robbery, is understood to have complained about the strictness of  rules in Stanley Prison in the past as he had been subjected to extra security measures because of his  record of attacking inmates and officers.

Ho allegedly threw some powder in the face of chief officer Wu Shun-on seconds after he was escorted into the interview room by three  officers and tried to slash the head of Stanley Prison Chief Superintendent Cheng Man-wai  with a piece of sharpened metal.  But he was quickly subdued.

Mr Cheng, who suffered cuts to his head and right hand, returned to work yesterday. He said the attack had not unnerved him.

He declined to comment on where the inmate managed to obtain the powder and the metal to make the knife, saying only that the police were investigating. The attacker is expected to undergo a psychiatric assessment.



Jail attack sparks review of handcuff rule