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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. OUEN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 25th APRIL 2006
Question
Would the Minister –
( a ) i n fo r m members of the cost of Prison Officer overtime for each of the financial years
2001 to 2005 and explain what efforts, if any, have been made to reduce this cost over that period?
( b ) p r o v id e financial statements of all budgets under her control for the period 2000 to 2006
in the same format as the one provided for H.M. Prison, La Moye in answer to written questions on 28th March 2006?
Answer
(a) The cost of Prison Officer overtime for each of the financial years 2001 to 2005 was as follows: 2 0 0 1 £ 4 6 6 ,241 2 0 0 2 £ 3 9 7 ,329
2 0 0 3 £ 6 0 4 ,795
2 0 0 4 £ 8 8 3 ,235
2 0 0 5 £ 6 9 0 ,495
The levels of overtime increased in 2003 and 2004 from the levels in 2001. The main reasons for the increase in levels of overtime were the significant increase in the number of prisoners held in the prison which led to a need to increase the level of supervision for those prisoners. The prison also experienced high levels of sickness among prison officers. In the summer of 2004 there was also a one-off period of a prisoner held at St Saviour's hospital which necessitated 2 officers for 24 hour cover for a period exceeding 4 months at a cost of approximately £43,000 per month (not all overtime).
The reasons for the significant decrease in 2005 (over £200,000) are due to the recruitment of Prison Officers to rectify the previous shortfall and a very robust management approach to the use of overtime. The use of overtime is scrutinised by the Senior Management Team and only overtime that is essential for the operation of the prison is used. Alternative means of achieving the objective are always considered. The downward trend is continuing in 2006 but it should be recognised that unforeseen occurrences such as that in 2004 can lead to dramatic and unavoidable increases in the level of overtime.
(b)