The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has called on the Barnett Government to act immediately to address the chronic overcrowding at Roebourne Regional Prison.
WAPOU Secretary John Welch said new facilities were urgently needed at Roebourne Prison, a facility originally built in the 1960’s.
“While the Government’s recent announcement to open a new minimum-security facility in Roebourne in welcomed, it’s about time the government acted to update the archaic main facility because frankly it’s well past it’s use by date.
“Roebourne Prison currently holds over 162 inmates in a prison designed for 116 – that is more than 46 prisoners over the design capacity or almost 40 per cent more than the prison is designed for.
“The working conditions of WA’s Prison Officers are already difficult, yet by failing to act the State Government makes their jobs even more risky and dangerous.
“WA’s prison system is bursting at the seams with 13 out of 14 WA prisons overcrowded and Roebourne Regional Prison is no different.
“A report released late last year by Western Australia’s Inspector of Custodial Services highlights the knock on effects overcrowding has on our prisons causing tension amongst prisoners which leads to more assaults on fellow prisoners and can lead to assaults on staff.
“If the State Government wants to be tough on law and order it must match its talk with increased investment in prisons and delivery of appropriate new facilities.
“Every day prison officers deal with the effects of serious overcrowding. The Barnett Government must act now to stop putting Roebourne Prison staff further at risk,” said Mr Welch.
The future of the planned new Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison is now in jeopardy as a result of the Barnett Government’s announcement this week of funding cuts to the Department of Corrective Services.
“The prison system faces funding cuts of 2% this year and further cuts of 3% over coming years putting the Western Australian community further at risk,” says WA Prison Officers’ Union Secretary John Welch.
Yesterday’s announcement included news there will be a deferral of spending on a range of capital works projects across government, putting further in doubt plans to build a new prison facility in the Eastern Goldfields and much-needed upgrades at other facilities around the state.
The Barnett Government’s announcement yesterday of a 2% funding cut to the Department of Corrective Services this year and further cuts of 3% over coming years puts the Western Australian community further at risk says WA Prison Officers’ Union Secretary John Welch.
“These latest funding cuts combined with cuts of 3% over the past three years means prison sector funding has taken a significant hit at the same time as our prisons are overflowing.
“Treasurer Christian Porter says the cuts won’t affect frontline services. As he should well know, we are already in the process of making significant efficiency savings in conjunction with the Department. We are concerned this further cut, on top of what’s already occurring, will have detrimental consequences to the safety and security of Prisons and Prison Officers.
“Prison Officers who perform a frontline role in keeping our communities safe by managing WA’s ever growing prison population. WA is currently experiencing a record prison population, currently at 4,949 inmates in a system designed for just over 3,500.
WAPOU Secretary John Welch called for the government to release the details of its contract with Serco for the provision of privatised Prison services at Rangeview facility.
He said that recent revelations that Serco intended to fulfil its contract to provide maintenance at the hospital by using prisoners from the new Rangeview Prison were deeply disturbing.
“It is hard to believe that this has been allowed to happen – it is clear that Serco’s need to make a profit has over-ruled any safety or moral considerations.”
“This has not happened in any other hospital in the State, and for good reason. Serco is simply using its prisoners as cheap labour, and public safety will be the loser.”
WA Prison Officers Union officials will tomorrow (March 15th) visit the Bunbury Regional Prison to investigate staffing levels and potentially dangerous conditions at the prison.
WAPOU Secretary John Welch said the independent Inspector of Custodial Services had found that the occupation rate of the prison was 50 per cent higher than capacity – leading to increased violence and a breakdown in prisoner-staff relations.
“There are 338 prisoners in a facility designed to hold 223,” Mr Welch said.
“Overcrowding has led to prisoners being placed on the roof or sleeping in mattresses on the floor, increased assaults on staff and prisoners unable to access programs and services.
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has condemned the Barnett Government for failing to keep all existing beds in operation at Albany Regional Prison when a new prison unit opens this month.
WAPOU Secretary John Welch said it was ludicrous that at the same time the Government is trumpeting the opening of 96 new beds at Albany Regional Prison they were closing 90 existing beds.
“WA’s prison system is bursting at the seams with 13 out of 14 WA prisons overcrowded and Albany Regional Prison is no different. In a facility originally designed for 186 prisoners it currently houses 311 prisoners.
“The State Government is spending $65 million on 5 new prison units across the state but this will only yield a further six beds at Albany Prison despite chronic overcrowding.
WA Prison Officers’ Union Secretary John Welch today called on the Barnett Government to come clean on their plans for the future of Broome Regional Prison.
With rumours of the prison’s demise circulating throughout the Broome community Mr Welch said it was time for the State Government to make public their intentions for the future of the facility.
“We are worried for the future of Broome Prison, we know that a range of options are being considered including closure,” said Mr Welch.
“Broome Prison is an important economic contributor to the Broome economy. With a total prison officer staffing of 63 workers being paid an average wage of $70,000 the loss to the Broome economy if the prison closed would be up to $4.4 million per annum.
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 Inspector’s report highlights overcrowding as a significant concern with the occupancy rate at the prison almost 50 per cent higher than capacity due to extra beds being added to small cells intended for single occupants.
“Professor Morgan’s report says the cramped conditions at the prison have led to an increase in violence amongst inmates and a break-down in prisoner-staff relations.”
Urging the Minister to address the concerns as a priority, Mr Welch said the report confirms what the union has been saying for months now, that Western Australia’s prison system is bursting at the seams.
“The problems raised by the Inspector don’t just happen at Bunbury alone, 13 out of 14 WA’s prisons are overcrowded, with too many prisoners crammed into cells that are designed for only one prisoner,” said Mr Welch.
“The Minister can’t keep saying our prisons are ‘below operational capacity’ when the Inspector of Custodial Services, the ‘independent umpire’, says our prisons are overcrowded and the staff are being put at risk.
“Professor Morgan’s report also highlights the knock on effects of overcrowding on our prisons causing tension amongst prisoners which leads to more assaults on fellow prisoners and can lead to assaults on staff.
“If the State Government wants to be tough on law and order it must match its talk with increased investment in prisons and delivery of appropriate new facilities.
“The government must act now and stop putting prison staff at risk,” said Mr Welch.
ENDS
Media interviews: Stephen Dawson 0419 045 200
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 November 2011 and there has been no action yet on the new unit.
WA Prison Officers’ Union Secretary John Welch called on the State Government to deliver on their promises.
“Greenough Prison is holding over 280 inmates today in a prison designed for 219; that is more than 60 prisoners over the design capacity or 30 per cent more than the prison is designed for.
“New facilities are urgently needed at Greenough Prison, a fact recognised by the State Government. Yet two years on we have seen nothing that suggests the new female unit is going to be built.
Mr Welch said WA prisons were at breaking point with 13 out of 14 prisons in the state overcrowded.
“The working conditions of WA’s Prison Officers are already difficult, yet the State Government makes their jobs even more risky and dangerous by not delivering on promises to open more accommodation units.
“We call on local Liberal MP Ian Blayney to make clear whether the new unit will ever be built, and ensure the Barnett Government urgently delivers on their promises for Greenough Prison,’ said Mr Welch.
For interviews contact: Stephen Dawson, 0419 045 200
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 that a comprehensive evaluation, undertaken by the State Government, was supportive of outsourcing the new facility.
“We believe there will be little or no benefit to public coffers, and no improvement to public safety, by the decision to outsource this facility, said Mr Welch.
WAPOU called on the Minister to publically release the evaluation so the public could fully understand how the decision was made.
“The privatisation of any prison service poses a risk because experience around the globe shows that when prison services are privatised, jobs are cut in order to maximise profits for the company and its shareholders.
“The management of these facilities and services by multi-nationals has been called into question over recent times with riots at the privately managed Christmas Island Detention Centre and by the tragic case of Mr Ward.
“Western Australians don’t want foreign multinationals making profit out of the crimes of which they and their families are the victims.
“Prisons and prison services should always be held in public hands; they are the responsibility of the state,” said Mr Welch.
Mr Welch said the Barnett Government should not be using this decision to undercut the wages and conditions of Western Australian workers.
“If the Government persists with this flawed decision they must ensure that the workers at this facility get the same pay and conditions as those at other WA prisons,” said Mr Welch.
ENDS
Media interviews: Stephen Dawson 0419 045 200
- Overcrowding reaching breaking point at roebourne prison 2 May, 2012
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has called on the Barnett Government to act immediately to address the chronic overcrowding at Roebourne Regional Prison. WAPOU Secretary John Welch said new facilities were urgently needed at Roebourne Prison...
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The future of the planned new Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison is now in jeopardy as a result of the Barnett Government’s announcement this week of funding cuts to the Department of Corrective Services. “The prison system faces funding cuts of...
- WA community at risk from new government cuts to prisons 18 April, 2012
The Barnett Government’s announcement yesterday of a 2% funding cut to the Department of Corrective Services this year and further cuts of 3% over coming years puts the Western Australian community further at risk says WA Prison Officers’ Union Sec...
- WAPOU challenges government to come clean about the details of the contract with Serco 27 March, 2012
WAPOU Secretary John Welch called for the government to release the details of its contract with Serco for the provision of privatised Prison services at Rangeview facility. He said that recent revelations that Serco intended to fulfil its contract ...
- Prison Officers to highlight dangerous levels of overcrowding at Bunbury Regional Prison 14 March, 2012
WA Prison Officers Union officials will tomorrow (March 15th) visit the Bunbury Regional Prison to investigate staffing levels and potentially dangerous conditions at the prison. WAPOU Secretary John Welch said the independent Inspector of Custodi...
