10Official visitors

10 Official visitors

(1)  [Section 10 Subsection (1) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014] The Minister may appoint persons as official visitors in accordance with this section.

(1A)  [Section 10 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014] A person appointed as an official visitor is to be –

(a) appointed for a term, not exceeding 3 years, specified in his or her instrument of appointment; and

(b) appointed on terms and conditions specified in his or her instrument of appointment; and

(c) paid such remuneration and allowances as the Minister may determine.

(2)  [Section 10 Subsection (2) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014] A person may be appointed as an official visitor to all prisons in the State.

(3)  [Section 10 Subsection (3) substituted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014] The Minister may appoint a Coordinator of the Official Visitors Scheme.

(3A)  [Section 10 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014] The Coordinator of the Official Visitors Scheme is to ensure that each prison is visited at least once a month by an official visitor and, for that purpose, may establish a system for the coordination of visits to prisons by official visitors.

(4)  An official visitor is to –

(a) [Section 10 Subsection (4) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014] visit, either alone or with another visitor, any prison once a month or at any other time; and

(b) inquire into the treatment, behaviour and conditions of the prisoners and detainees in that prison; and

(c) receive and investigate any complaint of a prisoner or detainee.