New amendments have been proposed to reform prison laws and increase penalties for prison offences.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee tabled the Prison (Amendment) Bill 2009 in the National Assembly on Thursday last.

The bill provides for amendments to the Prison Act, including the criminalising of protests on any prison roof. In the past, inmates have taken to the roof of the Georgetown Prisons to protest long delays in court proceedings as well as conditions. Under the provisions of the new bill, it would be categorised as a “major prison offence.”

Among the other proposed amendments are for prison officers to use weapons against prisoners engaged in individual or combined attempts to break out of prison. The bill proposes increased penalties for bringing, throwing or conveying prohibited items into prisons or out of prison; unlawful communication with prisoners; and  assaults on prison officers.