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The Iraqi
delegates during
their visit
The Prison Service has
been involved for some
time in helping to
reconstruct the security
infrastructure of Iraq.
The latest step saw two
deputy governors and a
social researcher from
Baghdad visit England
on a working
secondment to see
how HMPS manages
security issues.
T
here's a gaping contrast between war tom Iraq
and England and Wales, and the respective
Prison' Advisor (SPA) 12 months ago continuing the
work carried out by Dave Bramley, the previous SPA
prison systems are no exception.
To try and close the gap a team of Prison Service
staff has been seconded to the Foreign &
Commonwealth Office (FCO) for the past four years
in an attempt to improve the infrastructure,
conditions and regime in the Southern Iraqi prisons.
Two Conflict Prevention Pools were set up in
200 I to enhance the effecti veness of the UK's
contribution to conflict prevention and
management. One, the Global Conflict Prevention
Pool (GCPP) covers Iraq and is jointly run by the
FCO, Ministry of Defence and Department for
International Development.
Iraqi governors are now being given the chance to
visit European prisons in a bid to pick up best
and the dedicated HMPS mentoring team. The SPA
role includes advising the Southern Iraq Regional
Prisons Director and the two Basra prison governors.
He came back to the UK to host the party of justice
delegates from Iraq on a three week secondment
which focused on prison security, command of
serious incidents and daY-lo-day prison management.
He said: "The trip is a working secondment, not a
training or classroom scenario. We want the
governors to be working alongside their counterparts
in the Service and engage with them to see how they
deal with situations and share the intricacies of their
experiences, for example how everything we do in the
Service is underpinned by the Human Rights Act."
The secondment was co-ordinated by EUJUST
LEX which is the EU Integrated Rule of Law
practice to take back home.
Operational Manager Phil Robinson has been
working on behalf of the Service in Iraq for the past
two and a half years. He took on the role of Senior
Mission for Iraq - a mission carried out under the
European Security and Defence Policy.
It designs, organises and co-ordinates integrated
training opportunities for Iraqi senior officials from the
Penitentiary - as well as the Judiciary and Police - sector,
delivered in various countries in the EU.
To date, the EUJUST LEX Mission has
successfully facilitated 59 courses plus ten work
experience secondments, bringing the total number of
Iraq i students to I,43l.
The two female deputy directors - Sabia and Asia
from the Baghdad region as well as Probation
Services Social Researcher Alaa - spent time at
HMPs Wands worth and Downview where they
witnessed a Silver Command Suite in action as well
as having the chance to see what day-to-day security
measures are in place at the establishments.
They also attended a Gold Command Suite hostage
II
These people are
the future of the
Iraqi Prison Service.
As they develop
their service, they
will be able to
look back at what
they've seen here
in the UK and
hopefu Ily adapt
and use some of it.
II
exercise at HQ, visited the Tactical Support Group
and also the Control and Restraint Centre at
Kidlington where they saw the type of resources the
Service has in place to deal with any concerted
indiscipline that occurs across the estate.
And they certainly benefited from the experience.
Speaking to PSN the two govell10rs - both of whom
had left Iraq for the first time - commented on the
differences in the two prison systems.
They said: "We were very impressed with the
Tactical Support Group. We had never seen anything
like that before, it was totally new to us.
"Also the staff training and the vocational training
for prisoners are things we would like to consider. If
you have the right equipment and the right training,
you can achieve a lot."
Phil said: "The situation over there really is a
complete contrast to what they've seen over here,
culturally and physically.
"But we have to develop the prisons over there at
the right pace. For example, if people in custody all
had proper beds, it would contrast greatly with the
majority of people on the outside who just sleep on
the floor - it's all relative."
He added: "To achieve stability in a country, you
need to get the rule of law right which is proving a
very difficult challenge in Iraq, but the situation has
moved forward since we've been there.
"However, the infrastructure is still poor.
One of the two prisons in Basra is an old
Ports Authority tin warehouse. It was
adapted in 2004 to hold prisoners. It
literally had seven large 'cages'
installed and we added a further
seven during 2006.
"The other is a converted field
hospital built by the British back in
the 1920s and is in a dilapidated
state. Significant work has taken
place during the team's time in
Basra to improve conditions. A
new sewage system, medical
facilities, refurbishment of cells,
air conditioning and running water are just a few of the
key initiatives. That said there is excessive
overcrowding. But 2008 should see work start on a new
1,500 bed fit-for-purpose facility in Basra.
"The size of the cells is totally different too - there
can be anything from seven to 45 prisoners to a cell,
depending on the room size. There is very much a
community feel. All barriers tend to disperse in prison
over there and there is a real support network between
the prisoners in the dormitories, resulting in very few
incidents of self harm or suicide.
"We have managed to introduce some element of
staff training, and some form of regime, which
included basi~ juvenile education, as well as a visits
system, but it's all operating on a shoestring budget."
Phil said that while the visiting governors from
Baghdad did not work in prisons that were in such a
bad condition as those in Basra, their establishments
would not meet the Prison Service standard of being
fit for purpose.
But he hoped that some of what they had seen
during their visit would help to improve the situation
in the future.
"A lot of the things that the governors have seen
over here are a bit pie in the sky for them at the
moment. But these are the people that are the future of
the Iraqi Prison Service. As they develop they will be
able to look back at what they've seen here in the UK
and hopefully adapt and use some of it.
"The co-ordination of the visit was made so much
easier by the support and flexibility of the governors
and staff we visited. I'm certain all parties have
benefited greatly from this worthwhile venture."
The visit culminated in a closing ceremony held at
FCO headquarters in London which Director General
Phil Wheatley met each of the delegates.
Phil Robinson with
12-year old offenders
in a Basra
prison