After almost two years in a state of disrepair, since its roof was badly damaged by Hurricane Irma, The Valley Police Headquarters is very much restored although some basic renovation work still remains to be completed – including some of its air-conditioning.
An area not easily seen by the public is that where there are eight prisons cells – four each for male and female prisoners. Those persons are usually held there for very short periods pending their appearance in court or transfer to Her Majesty’s Prison.
A tour of that area, afforded to The Anguillian newspaper, revealed that the cells have recently been considerably renovated in an effort to conform to human rights obligations as far as proper accommodation is concerned. The cells are being furnished with new beds on sturdy high frames – instead of a marked out flat area, with some sort of pad on the concrete floor, where prisoners have been sleeping. There are also adjoining bathrooms.
Commenting on this matter, Commissioner Paul Morrison stated: “As you know, I have always respected human rights ever since the banking issues back in 2015. We have now revamped our cell block to be human rights compliant. We actually measure the compliance rate of our custody records so that we can make sure that persons, coming into custody, are properly being looked after – and that we are not taking advantage of the fact that they are in custody.”
The doors of each cell are self-locking and are fitted with an easy-to-operate panel through which prisoners are served food and water rather than taking the risk to open the doors.
The cell inmates need not to be confined in the rooms. They have an opportunity to walk through a corridor to what is referred to as an “exercise yard”. It is in fact an enclosed concrete patio, with overhead ventilation steel mesh, where prisoners can relax – however they wish.
North of the block of cells is a shielded police guard desk where prisoners have access to seek information or to make requests. They are therefore not being held in isolation.
There is also a twin-stairs bed facility – and bathroom facilities – for juveniles.
Like the second floor of the building, the first floor provides for a network of offices and other facilities that make the Police Headquarters a very roomy place – although there is obviously a need for more space.
Meanwhile, at the back of the building, garage facilities are under construction – adding to the wide accommodation area for in-house or occasional public functions especially during the police anniversary celebrations.
