‘Answers attached to prison report were submitted by previous legislation’ – Ministry

The answers attached to a report which found major shortcomings in conditions at Corradino Correctional Facility, were given by the previous government, and not by the current administration, as the media may have led the public to believe.

According to the Ministry for Home Affairs and Security, the current government's vision is different and will analyse that which was noted in the report, which was published yesterday by the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).

The government says it will take heed of the issues emphasised in the report and take adequate action.

The ministry also explained the report had been passed on to the Board for the Reform of the Corradino Correctional Facility to consider.

"This report could have been published more than a year ago, as it was finished in April 2012. It was our government that took the decision to publish this report with the aim of informing the public about the situation that exists in Corradino Correctional Facility," the ministry stated.

The report detailed the CPT's September 2011 visit to Malta, together with the Maltese authorities' response.

The visit mainly focused on Corradino Correctional Facility, Malta's only prison. In certain parts of the prison, material conditions of detention had significantly improved since the CPT's previous visit in 2008.

However, major shortcomings were found once again in several other areas of the establishment, in particular, as regards the state of repair of cells and access to natural light.

The situation was exacerbated by prevailing overcrowding, and a lack of organised activities for many prisoners. The CPT has recommended in particular that a comprehensive plan to renovate the entire prison be drawn up as soon as possible.