Quality Assurance
To strengthen the management of persons in custody in a secure and humane manner, the Quality Assurance Division conducts timely reviews and implements enhancement measures to maintain and enhance the performance standard of the Department, and to implement the Strategic Plan formulated in 2018.
A staff uses the X-ray inspection system to prevent any person from bringing unauthorised articles into the correctional facility.
A correctional officer conducts a regular inspection in a correctional facility.
Inspectorate and Security Unit
The Inspectorate Sub-unit conducts systematic and quality inspections of correctional facilities to ensure departmental policies are followed, rules and regulations duly complied with, approved procedures and standards consistently maintained, and resources put to good use to enhance efficiency.
The institutional activities inspections conducted by the Inspectorate Sub-unit have been accredited under ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. The adoption of a risk-based approach allows the inspections to focus on the imminent operational risks found in institutions.
Last year, the Inspectorate Sub-unit conducted a total of 4 full inspections, 22 thematic inspections, 18 follow-up inspections, 6 security inspections and 12 surprise visits in various correctional facilities.
The Security Sub-unit makes every effort to stamp out the smuggling of contraband into correctional institutions to ensure a drug-free environment for persons in custody. In 2019, there were 22 cases with seizure of dangerous drugs, and all of these dangerous drugs were intercepted in a timely manner.
Last year, the Security Sub-Unit conducted 168 joint searching operations, 8,388 special searching operations and 130 night raid operations in correctional institutions during which unauthorised articles were seized.
On the training front, the Inspectorate and Security Unit arranged job-related sharing and training sessions for staff, including “Triad Expert Course” organised by the Hong Kong Police Force and courses on “Criminal and civil proceedings” and “Habeas Corpus” organised by professional academics.
Joint
searching
operations
168
Special
searching
operations
8,388
Night
raid
operations
130
Management Services and Research Unit
Management Services and Research Unit comprises Management Services Sub-unit, Research Sub-unit and Legal Research Sub-unit.
The Management Services Sub-unit constantly reviews legislation within the Department’s purview, departmental standing orders and operational manuals to ensure that operational needs and demands arising from the changing environment in society can be met. It also conducts studies on the application of innovation and technology to enhance the security system and operational efficiency.
The Research Sub-unit provides research support for the Department to enhance its operation, as well as the monitoring and review mechanisms. It also assists the Department in maintaining close communication with correctional authorities of different jurisdictions by arranging staff to participate in international conferences and forums, such as Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators and International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) Annual Conference for exchanges of experiences and best practices.
The Legal Research Sub-unit coordinates all legal matters with departmental-wide implication, including coordinating legal consultation work with the Department of Justice for different sections and institutions. It maintains a centralised database of legal advice in the Knowledge Management System, with a view to providing legal reference materials to colleagues for enhancing their professionalism and work skills. It also conducts studies on legislative amendments related to the Department. On legal training, the Legal Research Sub-unit organises various courses aiming to equip colleagues with professional legal knowledge for the development of the Department, such as arranging frontline officers to attend the seminars on personal data conducted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data in mid-2019.
The Complaints Investigation Unit handles and investigates all complaints within its purview expeditiously, thoroughly and impartially under the ISO Quality Management Systems, with a view to redressing grievances, preventing the recurrence of similar complaints and continuously improving the overall service quality.
Complaints Investigation Unit
The Complaints Investigation Unit (CIU) is an independent establishment appointed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services to handle and investigate all complaints within its purview expeditiously, thoroughly and impartially under the ISO Quality Management Systems, with a view to redressing grievances, preventing the recurrence of similar complaints and continuously improving the overall service quality. For check and balance, the Correctional Services Department Complaints Committee (CSDCC) is vested with the authority to examine all investigation findings from CIU.
In 2019, CIU received 504 complaints/requests/enquiries from persons in custody, the public and staff. Among them, 119 complaint cases entailed full investigation by CIU, 14 complaint cases entailed handling by institutions under CIU monitoring, and 371 were requests/enquiries. Besides, CSDCC examined and endorsed the investigation reports on a total of 114 complaint cases and made 31 recommendations for service improvement.
The Correctional Services Department Complaints Appeal Board (CSDCAB) is established for making final decision on the appeal cases against the findings endorsed by CSDCC. The Department reviews and enhances the complaints handling mechanism from time to time. Since early July 2019, the number of non-official members of CSDCAB has been increased from 18 to 24, including Justices of the Peace and religious persons who are acquainted with correctional operations. The widened structure of CSDCAB enhances its transparency and credibility, thus achieving its aim to handle complaints in an open, fair and impartial manner.
The Counter-terrorism Unit provides training for colleagues of the Rehabilitation Division.
CSD’s staff participate in an exercise organised by the Inter-departmental Counter-terrorism Unit.
Counter-terrorism Unit
The ever-changing global terrorism situation in recent years has brought immense challenges to the safety of places worldwide, including Hong Kong.
In order to strengthen the professionalism on counter-terrorism (CT), the Counter-terrorism Unit (CTU) actively arranged colleagues from different sections to attend courses and seminars on CT related topics in 2019, including the frontline staff and the Senior Officers who are responsible for decision making. It aims to strengthen their knowledge of CT for the implementation of the CT strategy of the Department.
In addition, CTU conducted a large-scale inter-departmental CT exercise jointly with other disciplinary forces at Lei Yue Mun Park in March 2019. The exercise not only effectively raised the CT awareness of the public, but also enhanced the ability of the Department to coordinate intelligence analysis and organise large-scale exercises with other disciplinary forces.
Smart Prison Protocol Unit
To facilitate the implementation of the “Strategic Plan” formulated by the Department in 2018, which includes building a sustainable correctional system with an integrated operational protocol, the Smart Prison Protocol Unit was established in July 2019 for the overall planning and coordination of Smart Prison development projects, and active exploration of the feasibility of applying potential innovative technologies to various areas of work, in order to enhance the daily operation of institutions.
In 2019, the Smart Prison Protocol Unit actively reviewed various trial projects, including the “Passage Surveillance System” and the “Health Signs Monitoring System” in connection with the use of “Smart Wristbands” at Lo Wu Correctional Institution, and the “Video Analytic Monitoring System” at Pik Uk Prison. After review, the Smart Prison Protocol Unit will further study the possibility of extending these trial projects to other institutions.
The “Passage Surveillance System” and the “Health Signs Monitoring System” have been put into trial run at Lo Wu Correctional Institution.
In respect of research and development, the Smart Prison Protocol Unit collaborated with EMSD in developing the “Robotic Monitoring System”. The system has been put into trial run at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre to assist with the patrolling duties. The handheld device enables staff in real-time monitoring of the behaviour of persons in custody in order to prevent self-harm acts and illicit activities. Besides, “Persons in custody Self-learning System” has been introduced at Stanley Prison on a trial basis. Persons in custody are provided with electronic tablets, with the aim of cultivating their learning and reading habits as well as facilitating their future re-integration to society. In addition, The “Integrated Intelligent Communication System” is on trial at Lo Wu Correctional Institution. With the application of biometrics technology, the system enables better communication between persons in custody and their families, incorporates practical technological elements into rehabilitation as well as improves work efficiency of our staff.
The “Robotic Monitoring System” is put to use during night shifts.
The “Integrated Intelligent Communication System” is on trial at Lo Wu Correctional Institution.
Regarding the management of persons in custody, “Persons in custody Self-service Kiosk” has been introduced into Tung Tau Correctional Institution and Tai Lam Centre for Women for trial, with a view to enhancing their self-management ability for future re-integration into the community in late 2019. Through the system, persons in custody can purchase canteen items, so that their self-management ability and efficiency of the purchase process can be enhanced. To further optimise institutional management, the Smart Prison Protocol Unit has also assisted in the introduction of “Staff Handheld Device” which enables the handling of the daily matters of persons in custody and storage of relevant information through electronic and digital means, so as to further enhance work efficiency.
Looking ahead, the Smart Prison Protocol Unit will continue to strive for sustainable development in correctional institutions through the application of technology to enhance custodial efficiency, institutions’ security and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes.
Persons in Custody Self-learning System.
