Labour leader visits prison

Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday visited the prison at Corradino and called for more resources for prisoner rehabilitation programmes and better conditions for workers.

He was given an extensive tour of the facility, meeting inmates and staff, accompanied by deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela, general secretary Jason Micallef and home affairs spokesman Gavin Gulia.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Dr Muscat said it was important that prisoner rehabilitation programmes were well-resourced so that the prisoners could reform into citizens who could contribute to society.

"Victims of crime should get justice but not revenge," he said. The Labour Party sees the prison not only as a place where criminals pay their due but also as a place of reform.

Dr Muscat said his visit symbolises the importance the MLP pays to listening to all sections of society.

He called for better conditions of work for the staff, saying they were working very long hours which would be unacceptable by European standards had this not been a disciplined force.

Dr Muscat said there had been an improvement in the infrastructure of the prison although much more remained to be done.

The Labour leader met a number of inmates who were given the chance to speak to him in confidence. He said they did not have many complaints besides issues of communication with the outside world.

Asked about parole, Dr Muscat said the MLP was awaiting the government's proposals and would then discuss the issue, giving no personal opinion on the matter.

When asked to comment about the reported police beatings of migrants last weekend, he said that he does not condone gratuitous violence, regardless of who the victims were, and especially when the violence is committed by the police.

He understood that the police at times needed to use an element of force but said there was no justification for any violence to be used on a handcuffed person.

Dr Muscat said he would await the outcome of the investigation taking place.