Around 30 people will be gradually transferred from the Corradino Correctional Facility
A new building in Ħal Far, which will serve as an extension to the prison, is expected to be completed in the coming days. The works, which are being carried out by prison staff and inmates, are at a very advanced stage.
Minister for Home Affairs and Security Glenn Bedingfield visited this building and personally thanked everyone who was working to ensure that it could be used without delay as the number of people in prison is increasing every day.
“This is being done thanks to the work that the Police are carrying out, which is bringing more people to justice and this is creating pressure on the prison,” said Minister Glenn Bedingfield.
This new building is expected to house around 30 people who are in the final months of their sentences. The facility is well-equipped and offers the same conditions as Corradino Prison. The building forms part of the Detention Centre.
There are currently around 800 people at Kordin. Minister Bedingfield said “We cannot ignore the fact that we have a facility that was built in 1850, almost two hundred years ago, and despite various works and developments that have been carried out over the years, there are inherent limitations in the structure and the space available”.
Therefore, during these past few weeks, several discussions and planning have taken place to identify concrete solutions that address the pressure on the Corradino Correctional Facility and at the same time continue to improve the infrastructure and facilities available to incarcerated persons.
The Minister added that “Our priority is clear: we must ensure security in correctional facilities, while providing appropriate conditions for every person who is incarcerated. We will continue to take the necessary measures to address the pressure that exists on Corradino and continue to invest in infrastructure that reflects today’s realities”.
He stressed that every measure being taken in the correctional field is being carried out with full respect for Maltese legal obligations and the European conventions to which Malta is a signatory.
“Safety and appropriate conditions are not an option, they are our responsibility. We will continue to work to have a safer, more efficient correctional system that is capable of responding to the challenges it faces,” stated Minister Bedingfield.
Photo: MHS
