Ombudsman delivers interim report on CIDC investigation

The Office of the Ombudsman submitted an interim report of its Own-Motion Investigation (OMI) at the Cayman Islands Detention Centre to the Commissioner of Police and HE the Governor on 21 August 2025.

The Ombudsman announced in May 2025 that an OMI would be conducted at CIDC, a jail facility operated by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), which temporarily houses individuals arrested by the police and other local law enforcement agencies. The CIDC has recently been the subject of complaints to the Ombudsman under the Police (Complaints by the Public) Act. Other concerns have separately been raised with the Ombudsman, primarily related to the safety and administrative processes at CIDC.

In a press release dated 27 May 2025, the Ombudsman stated that, where warranted by the findings, preliminary recommendations could be shared with the RCIPS Gold Command, at her discretion.

Throughout June 2025, Investigators from the Ombudsman’s Office conducted on-site observations at the CIDC, engaged with staff, and collected written and photographic evidence. These visits prompted further inquiries and interviews with CIDC management to obtain additional information.

“Our initial investigation uncovered serious and widespread concerns regarding prisoner safety and health at CIDC, deficiencies in security protocols, critical maintenance failures, and troubling gaps in officer training and general well-being,” said Ombudsman, Ms. Sharon Roulstone. “Given the severity and immediacy of these issues, we determined that an interim report was necessary ahead of the final OMI submission to the Parliament.”

Based on the evidence collected, the following 18 findings were reported: 

1. There is an existing policy on the transport and care of injured or sick detainees

2. The policy lacks clarity regarding which RCIPS unit is responsible for escort duties

3. An incident with a prisoner arose during the investigation period highlighting a serious communication failure between Health Services Authority (HSA) and RCIPS, posing operational and security risks

4. The fire alarm system at the CIDC has been nonfunctional for a period of several years during which the CIDC has continued operating

5. No adequate explanation has been given as to how the fire alarm became nonfunctional and why it was allowed to continue for so many years

6. Internal security doors at the CIDC are routinely left ajar, creating a significant security risk

7. There is some evidence to suggest that external doors have been left ajar, inadvertently facilitating a prisoner’s attempted escape from the CIDC in 2022. A report on the incident from the RCIPS has been obtained, but the matter is still being reviewed as part of the OMI.

8. There is no way for external RCIPS officers to enter the CIDC building to provide assistance if internal officers lose control of the facility. This matter is also being addressed with urgency, following the announcement of the OMI.

9. Damage to a CIDC cell has gone unrepaired for more than two months, leaving it out of service

10. Police appear to be largely unaware of how this damage occurred

11. There are “blind spots” within the CIDC, causing potential risk for both police officers, detainees and visitors.

12. The CIDC is not meeting its own recommended minimum staffing levels on a regular basis

13. The CIDC is not employing female Auxiliary Constables (ACs) on each shift due to difficulty in recruiting as well as the ACs being deployed elsewhere within the RCIPS

14. Officers are routinely working over normal shift time to complete paperwork

15. CIDC Sergeants, in particular, may face health risks due to excessive workload and/or stress

16. ACs are not all current on training and there remains some specialized training methods to which they don’t have access

17. Some long serving ACs at the CIDC are complaining of added stress/health effects

18. A training programme has been proposed for CIDC personnel and potentially other officers to learn about custody policing, but no schedule has been set for it.

The Ombudsman has made a number of recommendations in relation to these findings, which she has asked the Commissioner of Police to respond to within the next three months. Some issues, considered critical to public safety or health, were given an immediate time frame for implementation. Our office will be monitoring the recommendations going forward.

Recommendations:

·         Clarify Escort Responsibilities for Medical Transport

·         Strengthen Communication Between RCIPS and HSA

·         Restore and Certify Fire Alarm System

·         Address Security Door Protocols and Escape Risk

·         Establish Emergency Access Protocol

·         Improve Facility Maintenance and Incident Reporting

·         Eliminate Surveillance Blind Spots

·         Address Chronic Understaffing

·         Improve Gender Representation Among ACs

·         Mitigate Overwork and Stress

·         Limit Long-Term Assignments

·         Enhance Training Access and Compliance

·         Implement Custody Policing Training Programme

More specific recommendations and timelines were provided to the Commissioner of Police and RCIPS staff to assist with implementation. The Ombudsman has also requested a full report from the RCIPS in relation to the fire alarm system and the prisoner escape incident from 2022. Responses to these recommendations will be included and updated in the final OMI report which will be submitted to Parliament in accordance with the Complaints (Maladministration) Act.

“We thank the Ombudsman office for their forthright findings and for recognising our full co-operation and intent to be open and transparent throughout the entire investigation.  

“Work to address the issue with the fire alarm and sprinkler systems is in the advanced stages and has been ongoing for months, with 95% of essential repairs now completed.   An internal oversight body, led by a senior officer, will be assigned to address the findings and recommendations, with a progress report to follow.  

“We remain fully committed to maintaining the highest professional, constitutional, and statutory standards in the care of persons who come into our custody, while ensuring a safe work environment for our staff”. 

The investigation is conducted under section 11(1) if the Complaints (Maladministration) Act which states as follows:

11. (1) The Ombudsman shall not make an investigation without first receiving a written complaint unless he is of the opinion […] that there are reasons of special importance which makes investigation by the Ombudsman desirable in the public interest. (emphasis added) 

Anyone wishing to contact the Ombudsman’s office with further information about concerns at the CIDC may phone us 946-6283 or contact us via email at info@ombudsman.ky. Your information will be kept confidential and names and personal identifying details will be omitted from final reports of the investigation.