Riot a sign of things to come

“I am most concerned that the events of last week at Long Bay will not be an isolated incident,” said Sylvia Hale, Greens spokesperson for Corrective Services.

“Last Tuesday may well be a foretaste of worse to come unless Minister for Police Robertson and Commissioner Woodham act immediately to reverse policies that are failing prison officers and prisoners alike.

“I have had numerous prison officers contact me since Parklea Prison’s privatisation. They are all worried by the extra demands placed on staff because of the botched privatisation of Parklea. Insufficient, poorly trained, casualised staff are compromising prison officer and prisoner safety across the State and adding to tensions within the State’s gaols.

“Commissioner Woodham’s  ‘Way Forward” plan has cut staff to prisoner ratios and resulted in reduced staffing and minimal recreational and support programs for prisoners.

“With increased lockdowns, prisoners are being denied exercise and rehabilitation courses. Tensions between prisoners, and between prisoners at corrective services officers have grown, putting everyone’s safety at great risk.

“The Government’s ‘tough on crime’ policies are failing. Almost all prisoners will be released eventually. It is the interests of both prisoners and the community as a whole that prisoners come out of gaol with skills that enable them to lead productive lives.

“Simply locking up prisoners with a ‘throw away the key’ attitude increases the long term costs to society, does nothing to reduce re-offending, and endangers both Corrective Services officers and prisoners.

“New South Wales must not go back down the road of the riots and destruction that saw Bathurst Goal burned in 1974.

“The ‘law and order’ auction indulged in by the Government and Opposition should end. The only long-term solution is to divert the money being used to build ever more gaols and locking up ever more people toward rehabilitation of prisoners,” said Ms Hale.

Contact: Colin Hesse on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124