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Date : 21/08/2006
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Title: Balfour: Biometric Security System Handover


  Speech by Minister of Correctional Service Hon Ngconde Balfour during official handover of the Biometric Security System, Pretoria Correctional Centre

Commissioner Linda Mti
Chief Deputy Commissioners
Senior Management of the department
Representatives of Sondolo IT
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

The handover of this biometric security system is a symbolic unveiling and launch of a long-term strategy to strengthen security in our correctional centres, using sophisticated and advanced technological equipment.

For quite a long time, our correctional centres have experienced various acts related to breach of policy, negligence and corruption, to mention a few, perpetuated right under the nose of our officials. That legacy is nearing its end.

Today, with the introduction of this security system, we are closing a negative chapter and ushering a new era, the era of putting emphasis on the combination and partnership of both technological and human security aspects. Whilst we are introducing a system that is centred on advanced technology, it is however reliant and dependent on the human factor for efficient and effective operation and functioning.

It is therefore incumbent on us to inculcate and develop a culture of security consciousness amongst our staff, particularly those that will ultimately be trained by Sondolo IT to take over the operation of this security system over a period of time.

The launch of this system is a profound statement and message to the criminal elements that continue to undermine the strides that we make to strengthen security in our correctional centres that the game is over, the “big brother” is going to be watching you all the time.

It is a historic moment that as we launch this system, already 62 of the intended 66 correctional services sites have gone live and are already operating the new access and closed circuit Television (TV) security system.

This is a major security boost for our correctional centres which should usher a drastic improvement in our security measures. The introduction of this new system is also expected to bring about a transfer of skills to our correctional officials, about 80 or so, of whom are to be trained in the operation of the system.

It is therefore very pivotal that those that are to be capacitated to manage this system have a strong sense and comprehension of the critical importance of adherence and compliance to security ethics applicable in a security establishment such as a correctional centre. We expect nothing less than that and we are determined to ensure that there is no compromise on these security measures.

This system, which will also include a biometric fingerprinting system, will overhaul our management of inmate visitations to an extent that all inmates and visitors will be enrolled in the system, to enable our personnel to establish the availability of the inmate whenever a visitor arrives at the correctional centre.

This system is but one of a number of pillars of the minimum security standards policy I approved last year, which also include personnel intensive security training and creation of appropriate institutional capacity.

The project focuses on strategic access points with biometric (fingerprint based) access control system, turnstile gates and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system. The envisaged roll out over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period to other centres will still focus on strategic access control while also extending the numbers of cameras where additional strategic points need to be covered.

Later consideration will also be given to communal areas of our centres to assist in eliminating incidents of offender on offender violence.

We will continuously advance the use of this technology to enable us to speedily respond to incidents of security breaches including attempted escapes and offender to offender violence.

The other project being rolled out concurrently with this one and also linked to the same control centre is the state of the art security fencing with motion detection capacity and its close circuit TV system.

We cannot afford to delay the comprehensive roll out of this new system, hence, the need to expedite the introduction of this security measure in the remaining four sites as a matter of urgency.

According to a statement by Sondolo IT posted on the web based security and business professionals journal, Hightech Security Solutions the central control room is able to monitor and control all the security equipment and if there is a problem with the power supply in one area, it can be immediately addressed and the rest of the facility will still be running. We are also assured that should a problem develop in any regional control centre, control of the system can be switched to another centre thus ensuring a smooth and unhindered operation of the system all the time.

This is a revolutionary security system that is going to drastically change the face of correctional services as far as security management is concerned. The most profound efficiency of the system is its ability to minimise the effects of human intervention and power outages by switching control from individual sites to Sondolo IT’s own control centre, which is fully equipped with the necessary monitoring and control equipment to be able to take over surveillance of the 66 correctional centres from its national control hub.

We are therefore confident that the system has all the elements to effectively deal a blow to the criminal elements and close all the gaps that could be exploited to undermine our security measures.

It is expected that all the security equipment will be installed and the system fully operational by end of the year. This also will run concurrently with the training of Department of Correctional Service (DCS) staff in the operation of the system which will be phased in years.

The management of correctional centres has its own level of risk and this should be controlled, contained and managed in a multi pronged fashion centred on the combination of technology and human element.

This demands therefore that correctional centres be managed in a business like fashion requiring efficiency and effectiveness as far as safety and security of correctional personnel, visitors and inmates, is concerned. It is against this background that the there is increasing use of technology in security management in correctional centres.

Not only do our personnel and visitors need to be guarded from highly dangerous inmates, but inmates and staff themselves also need to be guarded and protected from those within their midst that might pose a security risk or threat.

It is for this reason that we trust the ability of the system to detect record and activate responses to unwarranted activities that are spotted through the remote monitoring CCTV.

However there is still a need to ensure that the system monitors activities in accommodation cells. The rate of unwarranted staff and offender interaction is a cause for concern in some of our centres, hence the need to monitor such interaction so as to detect and prevent these cases.

I hope that Sondolo IT will be cognisant of this concern and ensure supervision and monitoring of such acts including for example, potential suicide and drug abuse cases within cells.

I am however confident that the system is the answer to many of our security concerns and that it will be able to address the security needs of our correctional centres by responding to emergencies and preventing or limiting security breaches, risks, etc.

What is of crucial importance also, is the ability of the system to minimise the time between raising the alarm and responding to the incident. I hope the system will be able to devise means to keep such time to the absolute minimum. Conventional wisdom dictates that the best way to avoid an emergency situation in a correctional centre is to see it coming and act accordingly. Proactive surveillance therefore goes a long way in anticipating and handling such crises.

This should be centred on the need to inculcate a culture of security consciousness amongst our personnel who will be trained in the operation and management of the system. Without such consciousness and efficiency, we will be unable to witness the spin–offs of the system.

As I alluded to earlier on, the combination of technology and the human factor is a compatibility that has to be entrenched and without which the system will not be able to succeed.

I trust that we have the dedicated cadre of correctional officials who will be able to rise to the challenge and put the safety and security of the establishment and society at large ahead of their personal interests. This system must enhance our campaign against crime and corruption within correctional centres.

In conclusion, I wish to thank my management team led by Commissioner Mti as well as Sondolo IT for this great technological initiative. I am convinced that we are on the right track and course.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
21 August 2006

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