GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CMC) — The Cayman Islands Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has begun a formal investigation into the country’s detention centre, which is operated by the police force, after receiving a number of complaints.

In a release, the OMB said other serious concerns had been raised, including injuries to prisoners and drug use at the centre, prompting the office to open an investigation beyond the original complaints.

The Cayman Islands Detention Centre (CIDC) is a collection of cells and rooms where people arrested by the police and other local law enforcement agencies are held temporarily before being bailed, released or remanded.

The OMB said its Complaints Division has investigated some public complaints and received preliminary information about other concerns, primarily related to the safety and administrative processes at the CIDC.

After reviewing some of the details brought to her office, Ombudsman Sharon Roulstone decided that a further investigation was warranted.

“Given the seriousness of some of the incidents, including some where prisoners have been injured or consumed dangerous quantities of drugs while in police custody, we are compelled to review the issues at a broader level with the objective of improving safety for both the prisoners and police officers,” she said in the release.

The Complaints (Maladministration) Act, section 11, states that the OMB can only start an investigation after it has received a written complaint unless “there are reasons of special importance which make investigation by the ombudsman desirable in the public interest”.

“Given the number of incidents at CIDC in a relatively short period, along with the fact that the CIDC manages individuals who can be amongst either the most dangerous or the most vulnerable in society, I believe there is significant public interest in reviewing these issues more thoroughly,” Roulstone said.

The police have been informed about the ombudsman’s concerns and the investigation. Before the investigation began, preliminary discussions took place between the OMB investigators and three senior RCIPS officers, whose input has been included in the issues identified for investigation.

Police Commissioner Kurt Walton said he welcomed the investigation and would assist where required. Any recommendations from the review will form part of the continuous learning and improvement work that is undertaken across the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), he added.

The OMB explained that the findings of the investigation will be shared with the RCIPS. In some cases, preliminary recommendations may be made to Gold Command prior to the completion of the report, as warranted and at the discretion of the ombudsman. When the final report is complete, the findings will be laid in parliament.