during official handover of the Biometric Security System, Pretoria
Correctional Centre
21 August 2006
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 âbig
brotherâ 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 ITâs 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 spinâoffs 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
Source: Department of Correctional Service (http://www.dcs.gov.za)
