TOM DAVIS
Unionists say “warehousing” of inmates at Greenough Regional Prison is endangering staff safety.
The WA Prison Officers Union and Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association claim the State Government is neglecting overcrowding problems at Greenough Prison and needs to act.
The Prison Officers Union said inmate numbers at the prison had reached 290 yesterday, 71 above the facility’s design capacity of 219.
POU secretary John Welch said the Government’s decision to double-bunk inmates was putting too much pressure on officers.
The Western Australian Inspector of Custodial Services Neil Morgan today released his report of an “announced” inspection of Bunbury Regional Prison.
Professor Morgan’s report highlighted overcrowding as a particular concern saying the occupancy rate is almost 50 per cent higher than capacity and beds have been added to small cells originally intended for just one prisoner.
He says the cramped conditions have led to an increase in violence amongst inmates and a break-down in prisoner-staff relations.
Professor Morgan says prison management and staff are doing their best under the conditions but are sceptical about their ability to have a positive influence on prisoners.
“However, there are risks if the areas of concern identified in this report are not addressed,” he said.
• Read the ABC news story here »
• Read the Inspector of Custodial Services’ report here »
The State Government’s $655 million prison capital works program will not deliver a substantial increase in cells for at least three years because the Department of Corrective Services plans to shut old units for maintenance.
WA Prison Officers Union secretary John Welch said he was “extremely disappointed such a large promised increase in the prison capacity is not coming to fruition”.
© THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
John Welch speaks out about overcrowding in a Geraldton Guardian story revealing that the prison was holding 280 prisoners last week in a facility designed for 219.
The State Government announced in 2009 that a new male maximum-security unit would be built at Greenough Prison, only to decide months later that a female unit would be built in its place.
Yet two years on we’ve seen nothing to suggest a new female unit is going to be built.
Listen to WAPOU Secretary John Welch’s interview with Radio 6PR’s Paul Murray regarding the Barnett Government’s decision to outsource the new Young Offenders’ Facility.
Radio 6PR Breakfast Show 02/11/11
Listen here »
(1.4MB wma)
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Safe Staffing Review
Over the past few months the Department of Corrective Services has been conducting a review of prison officer staffing requirements and prison operations throughout Western Australia – “The Safe Staffing Review”.
To date, Your Union has been involved in two rounds of discussions with the Safe Staffing Review Team. There is a clear difference of opinion between WAPOU and the Department about the approach they have taken which is based on creating benchmarks to standardise levels of staffing for a range of functions.
WAPOU have made it very clear that only an assessment of the actual workload performed will allow for the appropriate levels of staffing to be determined.
WA’S prison system is under fire after a comprehensive staff survey revealed fears about workforce shortages, misconduct, racism and bullying.
The Sunday Times has obtained results from the biggest staff survey ever undertaken by the Department of Corrective Services, the fourth-biggest government employer.
About 1800 employees were questioned as part of the survey, conducted over two months in late 2010, which found:
The WA State Government has agreed to halt the reintroduction of cigarette lighters at the Greenough Regional Prison while Worksafe assesses the risks posed by the prisoners’ behaviour.
ABC News 3 August 2011
Perth Now reports - In a massive backflip that puts the health of Prison Officers at risk from passive smoking, the Government has lifted the ban on cigarette lighters in WA prisons.
PERTH NOW Cigarette lighter bans lifted in prisons
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WAPOU on WIN TV news
WIN TV news reporting on the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison announcement on the 8 January 2011.
- Prison Inspector says Bunbury Prison staff at risk while facility bursts at the seams. 20 January, 2012
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has called on the Barnett Government to fix the serious concerns raised by the Inspector of Custodial Services in his report into Bunbury Regional Prison released today. WAPOU Secretary John Welch said the Ins...
- Promised Prison beds at Greenough still not delivered 14 November, 2011
In November 2009 the Barnett Government announced a new male maximum-security unit would be built at Greenough Prison then months later decided not to site the unit at Greenough but announced they would build a female unit in its place. It’s now N...
- No benefit but serious risk with decision to outsource new Young Offenders Facility 1 November, 2011
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has called on the Barnett Government to reverse its decision to outsource a new Young Adults Facility. Expressing disappointment at the announcement today, WAPOU Secretary John Welch said he was very surprised...
- WAPOU calls for independent analysis into costs of privatised prisons 20 May, 2011
The WA Prison Officers Union (WAPOU) is calling for an independent analysis into the real costs of running privatised prisons after the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services released a report into Acacia Prison that failed to account for severa...
- Lives put at risk with renewal of privatised prison transport 5 May, 2011
The WA Prison Officers Union (WAPOU) has today slammed the WA government’s decision to award global private company, Serco, with the responsibility of WA’s prisoner transport, court security and other custodial services operations. “The privat...
