The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson, JP, visited inmates at the Westgate Correctional Facility last Wednesday, as part of the Ministry’s continued engagement with the Department of Corrections and its efforts to address the challenges facing the island’s correctional system.

The visit provided the Minister with an opportunity to speak directly with inmates to get direct feedback on an active training programme, alongside a wider exchange on the realities of life at Westgate, for those in custody and the staff who work alongside them.

It follows earlier engagement with Department of Corrections leadership and the Prison Officers Association Executive and forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing work to better understand the challenges across the correctional system and support practical improvements.

The visit comes as the Government moves ahead with several measures aimed at improving operations across the Department of Corrections.

In October 2025, an independent expert panel reviewed the Department’s three facilities against the Overseas Territories Detention Standards Framework.

The report was finalised in March 2026 and produced a number of recommendations which the Government has accepted and has already begun to implement.

Minister Wilkerson is expected to table the standards review panel report when the Senate resumes, along with an outline of the key steps being taken in response to its findings.

The Minister stated: “It was important for me to visit Westgate again and hear directly from inmates about their experiences and concerns.”

She added: “This is not about quick fixes or appearances. It is about better understanding where the pressures are, what needs to change, and making sure the Department has a clear direction.”

The Ministry noted that implementation work is already underway. Last week, Mr. Russ Crooks, Head of the International Liaison Team with HM Prison and Probation Service, was on island providing direct support to that effort.

Over the coming months, additional specialist support will be brought in to assist with staff profiling to better align roles with operational needs, while also helping to build leadership capacity across the Department.

The Minister added: “The Government is under no illusion about the work required, and that is why we are moving on several fronts at once. The standards review has given us a roadmap and we are acting on it.”

She continued, “That includes support for continued leadership development, review of staffing arrangements, active recruitment, and continued engagement with the Prison Officers Association on practical measures that support the safe and effective running of the Department.”

More broadly, the Department of Corrections continues to work to grow its workforce as quickly as possible. A recruitment drive for corrections officers is currently underway through 17 April, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply at govtcareers.gov.bm.

The Ministry of Justice said today’s visit reflects the Minister’s direct involvement in the work now underway to improve conditions, address longstanding concerns, and support a safer and more effective corrections system for staff, inmates and the wider community.