AN organisation which monitors the treament of prisoners needs new members.

The Independent Monitoring Board ensures prisoners' rights are being upheld in accordance with the custody rules in terms of their treatment, accommodation and standard of care.

Members of the IMB - formerly known as the Board of Visitors - tour the prison at Jurby on a regular basis to listen to inmates' requests and concerns.

Key issues are then discussed at the board's monthly meeting and can be escalated to the Prison Governor or Department of Home Affairs for further action if necessary.

The work, which also includes inspections of all holding cells in the Island's custody suites, requires a high level of commitment and calls for commonsense, objectivity and compassion.

The IMB is hoping to attract a fresh intake of community spirited individuals who are interested in contributing to this very challenging but rewarding aspect of Island life.

Vacancies have arisen in recent months and new recruits are required to restore the IMB to its full quota.

The board used to comprise solely of magistrates, but now consists of lay people from a variety of backgrounds to ensure that it represents a wide cross-section of the community.

While no formal qualifications are required prospective new members should have good 'life experience', a keen interest in the role and the time and energy to devote to monthly meetings, prison and custody suite visits.

An open mind, tact, diplomacy, professionalism, a decent level of physical fitness and a strong sense of justice are also essential attributes.

IMB chairman Aileen Gelling said: "This is an opportunity for people to make an active contribution to the Island's prison service.

"Membership of the IMB is interesting and varied and carries a lot of responsibility.

"We work hard to gain the trust of prisoners and ensure they are well cared for and have the appropriate access to education, exercise and healthcare.

"We can go anywhere in the prison and look at every aspect of prison life to check that everything is running properly."

Members visit in pairs and attend Jurby prison each week on a rota basis and inspect police holding cells and the custody suite at the courthouse once a month.

Board meetings are held on the first Monday of the month when matters arising from those visits are considered.

The IMB used to deal mainly with complaints about conditions and a lack of facilities when inmates were detained at Victoria Road, but those issues have largely been resolved since the move to Jurby.

Mrs Gelling, who has served on the IMB for more than nine years, said: "Conditions are so much better now that prisoners are accommodated in individual cells.

"We have witnessed a marked improvement in the behaviour, in particular that of the young offenders, since prison operations relocated to Jurby.

"However, the prison population has increased in recent years and that has been reflected in our workload."

She added: "IMB members have a duty of care to prisoners for the full duration of their sentences and we often deal with individuals from difficult backgrounds or with poor education.

"It is certainly not a job that anybody can do. It is very challenging but we do enjoy some real success stories and it is encouraging to see young offenders turn their lives around and become useful members of society on their release from prison."

New members of the IMB undergo training and always conduct their initial prison visits with an experienced colleague.

An allowance is paid for attending monthly meetings and travel expenses are also available.

Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK said: "The IMB performs an important function with the commitment and knowledge of its members held in high regard.

"It is important to ensure the IMB has sufficient experienced members to maintain its high standards and it is hoped that suitable candidates will come forward to take on what is a varied, interesting and demanding role."

Application packs can be downloaded from the Department of Home Affairs website at www.gov.im/dha or collected in person from the Department of Home Affairs, Homefield, 88 Woodbourne Road, Douglas, IM2 3AP.

Interested parties can have a pack sent out to them by emailing karl.cubbon@dha.gov.im or by ringing 694323.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is Friday, March 9.