Kofi Ampeah Woode
Officers of the Malakal Detention Facility have undergone immediate training in detainee escape prevention by personnel of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS/Correctional), to sensitize them on potential challenges of Correctional Personnel, and to keep them abreast with principles and procedures with the usage of chemical ammunition.
The training program, which became necessary after a high-profile detainee attempted to escape from detention custody, was held on Saturday 3 June 2023 for twenty (20) Officers of the detention facility, to also outline and familiarize the personnel with various stages involved in riot control and the importance of negotiation during riot control, in a detention facility.
After the near-disaster incident happened, the Commander, Malakal Detention Facility – Angeline Thandanani Maramba of Zimbabwe Prisons & Correctional Service, tasked Officer Frederick Adotei Johnson of the Ghana Prisons Service Security & Operations/SWAT, serving with UNMISS/Correctional, to train Officers of the facility.
The whole-day training, codenamed ANTI-ESCAPE, saw the Officers taken through theoretical and practical learning in the following; 1) Preventive Diplomacy and Negotiation in a correctional facility taken into consideration Standard Operational Procedure without security breach, 2) Control Technique (Wedge, Horseshoe, Calvary, Square, Rectangle and military formations).
Others were; 3) Use of chemical ammunition – pepper spray, tear gas etc – with regards to Proportionality, Humanity, Legality, Accountability and Necessity, Counter Technique (pressure points) and 4) Use of arms to disable.
