Independent Prison Monitoring Board: Appointments

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A decision made on 7 December 2021

MINISTERIAL DECISION REFERENCE: MD-HA-2021-0086
Decision Date: 17 November 2021
DECISION SUMMARY TITLE: Appointments to the Independent Prison Monitoring Board
DECISION SUMMARY AUTHOR:	Private Secretary	IS THE DECISION SUMMARY PUBLIC OR EXEMPT? (if exempt state the relevant article/paragraph of the Freedom of Information Law/Regulations)		Public
REPORT TITLE: Appointments to the Independent Prison Monitoring Board
REPORT AUTHOR OR NAME OF PERSON GIVING REPORT: (if different from Decision Summary Author)	Private Secretary	IS THE REPORT PUBLIC OR EXEMPT (if exempt state the relevant article/paragraph of the Freedom of Information Law/Regulations)		Public
DECISION AND REASON FOR THE DECISION: The Minister for Home Affairs appointed Norma O’Sullivan, Edgar Dingle, David Wilton and Elliot Perry as members of the Independent Prison Monitoring Board (IPMB), and appointed Andrea John as Chairperson and Norma O’Sullivan as Deputy Chairperson of the Board. The Prison (Independent Monitoring Board) Regulations 2017 require the Minister to appoint the members of the Monitoring Board and must appoint from the membership of the Monitoring Board a chairman and a deputy chairman. Due to vacancies in the Board’s membership a recruitment process was undertaken earlier this year for Board members and Norma O’Sullivan, Edgar Dingle and Elliot Perry have subsequently been appointed. Further to the former Chairperson’s indication that she wished to resign, the Minister invited members of the Board to submit expressions of interest in the Chair and Deputy Chair positions. The Minister is pleased to appoint Andrea and Norma to these positions.
RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS: None as a result of this decision.
ACTION REQUIRED: The Minister to write and confirm the appointments
SIGNATURE:			POSITION: Deputy Gregory Guida Minister for Home Affairs
DATE SIGNED:			EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE DECISION:

Independent Prison Monitoring Board: Appointments

REPORT: Appointments to the Independent Prison Monitoring Board

Background

The Independent Prison Monitoring Board was established in April 2017 according to The Prison (Independent Monitoring Board) Regulations (‘The regulations’).

The Regulations provide that the Board must satisfy itself of:

(a) the treatment and welfare of the prisoners;

(b) the state of the premises of the prison; and

In 2019 the Board carried out 25 Monitoring Visits to HMP La Moye and looked into 27 applications made by Prisoners at HMP La Moye.

The IPMB provides a vital safeguard to ensure the correct treatment of people detained at HMP La Moye and is a central feature of the island’s move towards demonstrating compliance with the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) requirements.

The regulations provide that the Minister must appoint the members of the Monitoring Board and must appoint from the membership of the Monitoring Board a chairman and a deputy chairman.

New Members

In July 2021, further to a recruitment campaign and interviews, the following individuals joined the Board as new members:

Norma O’Sullivan
Edgar Dingle
Elliot Perry
David Wilton

Members of the IPMB give up a significant amount of their time, on an entirely voluntary basis, and provide an important public service in maintaining oversight of the treatment of Prisoners detained at La Moye. They are to be commended for making this commitment.

Chair and Deputy Chair

Further to the former Chairperson’s indication that she wished to resign, and having received advice from the Jersey Appointments Commission, the Minister invited members of the Board to submit expressions of interest in the Chair and Deputy Chair positions.

The Minister is pleased to confirm the appointments of Andrea John as Chairperson and Norma O’Sullivan as Deputy Chair.

Ms John joined the Board in April 2018 and acted as interim Deputy Chair from October 2019 before being formally appointed in that role in October 2020. She has been a great asset to the Board, particularly since assuming the role of Deputy Chair, and has proven herself extremely capable. She works in the Finance sector.

Ms O’Sullivan joined the Board earlier this year. The Minister was pleased to receive an application from a relatively new member and looks forward to the perspective she will bring.