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Hong Kong Correctional Services Annual Review 2013

[ Commissioner’s Foreword]   [ Operations and Institutional Management ]   [ Rehabilitation ]   [ Industries and Vocational Training ]

[ Human Resource Management ]   [ Quality Assurance ]   [ Administration and Planning ]   [ Green Management ]   [ Appendices ]

 

Quality Assurance

In 2013, the Quality Assurance Division (QAD) continued to conduct timely review and initiate enhancements for upholding the service standard of the Department.

 

Inspectorate and Security Unit

The Inspectorate Sub-unit is committed to providing systematic and quality inspections to correctional facilities to ensure that the departmental policies are followed, rules and regulations are duly complied with, approved practices and standards are consistently maintained, and resources gainfully deployed to enhance efficiency.

In 2013, the Inspectorate Sub-unit conducted a total of five full inspections, 11 thematic inspections, 23 follow-up inspections, seven security inspections and 20 surprise visits to various correctional facilities.

To uphold the service standard of the Department and address public aspirations that come with the ever changing society and penal environment, the Inspectorate Sub-unit continued to contribute service enhancement initiatives particularly relating to security facilities and procedures. In 2013, two thematic studies on "Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) System" and "Clinical Escort" were conducted. The former examined the current operational and administrative procedures, identified security inadequacy, suggested solutions for improvement of CCTV System and devised a standard specification for forthcoming CCTV project, while the latter reviewed the departmental orders and the communication / liaison mechanism with other departments / statutory bodies (e.g. Government Flying Service and Hospital Authority), examined escort arrangement and explored enhancement measures in relation to clinical escort.

During the year, the Security Sub-unit made every effort to stamp out the smuggling of contrabands into correctional institutions, ensuring a drug-free environment for keeping persons in custody. There were 95 seizures of dangerous drugs, (most of which / all) were intercepted on the doorstep of the institutions. The Sub-unit also actively monitored the operation of the newly-installed X-ray body scanner to ensure its smooth implementation.

Wiping out gambling and illicit activities in correctional facilities is also an important mission of the Security Sub-unit. Based on sound intelligence networks and frequent searching operations, gambling and other illicit activities are reduced. In 2013, 301 joint searching operations, 3 348 special searching operations and 48 night raid operations were conducted in institutions with fruitful results.

On the training front, the Inspectorate and Security Unit organised job-related training courses for QAD officers with professional academies on "Team Building", "Crisis Management", "Media Handling" and "Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science".

 

Complaints Investigation Unit

Appointed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, the Complaints Investigation Unit (CIU) handles and investigates all complaints within its purview, the results of which are examined by the Correctional Services Department Complaints Committee (CSDCC). Customer Satisfaction Surveys are conducted in order to gauge satisfaction with CIU services in terms of mannerism, professionalism and efficiency. In 2013, the satisfaction rating was over 90%.

For continual improvement and enhancing staff working knowledge, CIU uploaded complaints statistics and recommendations endorsed by CSDCC as well as cases of interest to the 'Knowledge Management System' and 'Smart QA Info' of CSD Intranet on quarterly basis. CIU continued to adopt mediation service as an alternative to resolve minor and uncomplicated reportable complaints. As at the end of 2013, there are 58 trained staff mediation facilitators. Enhancement course to refresh facilitators with updated knowledge and practical skill in mediation service will commence in early 2014.

In 2013, CIU received 666 complaint / requests / enquiry cases from persons in custody and the public. Among them, 122 complaint cases entailed full investigation by CIU, 65 complaint cases entailed handling by institutions under CIU monitoring, 311 were repeated complaints, 168 were requests / enquiries. Besides, CSDCC examined and endorsed the investigation reports on a total of 122 complaint cases and made 38 recommendations for service improvement.

 

Management Services Unit

During the year, the Management Services Unit constantly reviewed the relevant legislation under the Department's purview, departmental standing orders and operational manuals to ensure that they were in line with operational needs and able to meet the demands arising from the changing environment in society.

The Unit also carried out researches in the application of technology for operational and security enhancement.

In 2013, the Unit actively pursued the use of Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) in preventing keys, weapons and equipment from being brought out of correctional institutions without authority after repeated testing at Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution. The RFID will be implemented in other institutions in 2014.

The Unit also finished the study on Human Presence Detection System for detecting persons hiding in vehicles or container cargo. The first Human Presence Detection System to be installed at the Laundry Vehicle Entrance Gate of Pik Uk Prison in early 2014 will significantly prevent persons in custody from escape.

 

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