Close Call On WA Prison Security

Date: 07 November 2002

A Department of Justice plan to change on-call rosters for senior prison managers will seriously reduce prison security, according to the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association, WA branch.

Branch Secretary Toni Walkington said that up to four senior managers per prison were currently required to be available 24 hours a day for emergency contact, but the department wanted to reduce this to a single manager for each prison, not necessarily the Superintendent, to be on call from November 4.

"Availability of senior managers for major incidents, such as riots, deathsin custody, major failure of security systems or prisoners who are at risk and have suicidal tendencies, is crucial and could be compromised.

"Given the breadth of emergency situations facing prisons, a superintendent requires immediate access to managers with expertise in specialised areas to assess and resolve issues," she said.

"For instance, a major failure of the perimeter fence security system would lead to the potential for escapes, so the manager with competence in security systems would need to be contacted immediately.

"It's no good to a prison superintendent if the manager on call knows nothing about security systems.

"This is another example of penny pinching while compromising prison security and, at worst, the safety and security of the WA community if escapes were to occur."

Ms Walkington said the union was so concerned with the department's proposals that it sought an urgent conference with the WA Industrial Relations Commission last week to stop the introduction of the new roster.

The Commission's intervention resulted in the Department temporarily suspending the roster.

"For the past 12 years, prison superintendents and other senior managers have been paid at significantly less than the award rate for making themselves available 24 hours a day.

"Attempts by our members over the past four years to be paid at the award rate have been ignored by the department. The department has reacted to Superintendent's demands to be paid an equitable level of allowance by seeking to introduce a roster that would dramatically reduce the number of persons able to respond in an emergency situation."

Ms Walkington emphasised that Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents were prepared to provide a minimum level of security provided they were properly recognised.

For further information

Contact:	Toni Walkington, Branch Secretary
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Phone:	9323 3895
Contact Mobile:	0403 244 501

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]