Over 30 Inmates To Be Transferred As New Ħal Far Building To Be Completed Soon
A new building in Ħal Far is set to strengthen Malta’s correctional facilities by providing additional capacity for people serving prison sentences.
The facility, which forms part of the Detention Centre, is expected to be completed in the coming days following advanced works carried out by prison employees and inmates.
Minister for Home Affairs and Security Glenn Bedingfield visited the site and thanked those involved in the project, saying that the building would allow operations to begin without delay at a time when the number of people in prison continues to increase.
According to the Minister, the growing number of people being brought before the courts by the Police Force has placed additional pressure on the Corradino Correctional Facility.
Around 30 people who are in the final months of their sentences are expected to be gradually transferred to the new building in Ħal Far.
The facility is equipped with the same standards and conditions available at Corradino, providing an extension to existing correctional infrastructure. There are currently around 800 people at the Corradino Correctional Facility.
Minister Bedingfield said that while improvements and developments have been carried out over the years, the age of the facility continues to present challenges. Corradino was built in 1850, and the Minister noted that limitations remain due to the structure itself and the available space.
He said that discussions and planning had taken place in recent weeks to identify practical solutions to ease pressure on the facility while continuing to improve the infrastructure and services available for incarcerated persons.
The Minister reiterated that the Government’s priority was to maintain security within correctional facilities while ensuring appropriate conditions for those in custody. He added that measures being introduced in the sector were being carried out in line with Malta’s legal obligations and European conventions.
He said work would continue towards creating a correctional system that is safer, more efficient and better equipped to address current and future challenges.
#MaltaDaily