Machines And Robots To Make Running Prisons Nicer

Prison officials are eyeing on new technology and robots to make running the city's jails a little easier.

It is launching hi-tech monitoring devices for inmates to wear, and robotics to do some of the more unpleasant jobs, like checking for well-hidden drugs.

At an annual briefing on the department's work on Thursday, officials revealed how inmates at the Lo Wu Correctional Institution will be used as guinea pigs for a new wristband, which will monitor not only their health, but their whereabouts as well.

Meanwhile, the Correctional Services Department is testing out a new way of checking whether new inmates have drugs in their system.

A robotic arm will help search through their faeces, saving officers from going through it manually.

A video analytics monitoring system is also being tried out at some of the dormitories at Pik Uk Prison.

It will warn staff of any abnormal behaviour by inmates, at the time it happens, which among other things could help prevent suicides.

Commissioner of Correctional Services Danny Woo, who was also at the media briefing, dismissed calls for an independent body to be set up to deal with prisoner complaints.

He said the existing internal procedures are transparent and are constantly being improved.

Officials said their investigation unit had referred 98 cases to the department's complaints committee last year and six were fully or partially substantiated.

On staffing, the department said it is a peak period when it comes to turnover, with many officers coming up to retirement and some resigning because they can't handle the working environment.

Commissioner Woo said training for new staff is going to be improved and he is thinking of introducing new shift patterns to allow workers to spend more time with their families.