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 several obvious expenses.
WAPOU Secretary Mr John Welch said, “While I welcome the positive comments made by the Inspectorate about the services provided by staff at Acacia Prison – it should be made very clear that prison officers and staff have worked tirelessly in a intensely challenging situation.
“The staff are up against the considerable difficulties cause by serious overcrowding at the prison and the union is concerned about safe staffing levels,” said Mr Welch.
While the union praises the efforts of staff at WA’s only privately run prison, it questions the Inspectorate’s claims about the value-for-money of these services based on the costings in its report.
“The Inspectorate’s report does not come up to scratch because the analysis fails to account for the full range of costs not borne by the private sector,” said Mr Welch.
These costs include:
- The provision of an emergency response function – provided only by the public sector,
- The extensive assessment of prisoners – which is carried within the public prison service,
- The 60 staff required to manage the contract for the Department of Corrective Services,
- The provision of state-wide facilities such as a Special Handling Unit or Casuarina infirmary,
- The provision of medical services – provided by the Department of Corrective Services
As a result, WAPOU has joined the CPSU in calling for an independent analysis of the real costs of privatisation of prisons.
“We’ve just seen the WA Government hand off the prisoner transportation contract to Serco – a private operator, and it has proposed that the new Young Offenders facility be privately managed.
“It’s crucial that the real costs of privatisation are known and properly understood by government and the wider community. The Inspectorates recent assessment of the Acacia Prison has done little to provide reassurance that it understands the real costs.”
“The privatisation of any prison service poses a risk because experience around the globe shows that when prison services are privatised, then jobs are cut in order to maximise profits for the company and its shareholders.
“Prisons and prison services should always be held in public hands; they are the responsibility of the state,” said Mr Welch.
Media contact: John Welch, 0400 220 667 or Natasha Webb 0410 729 594
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