Parklea Gaol out for another 24 hrs

Date: 12 May 2005

Prison Officers at Parklea Gaol voted this morning to continue their strike for a further 24 hours.

This action follows the discovery of a replica gun secreted in the visitors car park of the gaol.

"This is a serious breach of security and seriously jeopardises the safety of our members particularly following recent reports that a gun was to be smuggled into the maximum security facility," said John Cahill, General Secretary of the Public Service Association of NSW.

"Our members genuinely believe that this incident was a trial run to get a real gun into the gaol" Mr Cahill added.

Mr Cahill continued, "This was not a toy gun, it looked like and felt like the real thing."

Mr Cahill went on to say, "At the moment, senior management of Corrective Services have only offered to provide a security review. However our members are adamant that a two person mobile external perimeter patrol is needed until appropriate security arrangements are put in place".

Parklea Gaol is now surrounded by residential housing which should also be of concern to the community that guns could simply be left lying around their neighbourhood.

Our members' request is not unreasonable given the serious threat to safety that exists.

For further information

Contact:	Greg O'Donohue, Snr Industrial Officer
Union:	Public Service Association of NSW
Contact Mobile:	0419 417 193
WWW:	http://psa.labor.net.au/

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