Media Releases
WAPOU warns of further incidents without safe staffing
The WA Prison Officers’ Union is calling on the State Government to meet agreed staffing levels at all WA prisons immediately or risk further incidents.
The union’s members are not surprised a riot broke out at Greenough Regional Prison yester ...
Melaleuca: Make it Public
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) is calling on the State Government to take immediate action and put an end to the private contract of Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility following a damming report.
The Office of the Inspector of Custod ...
Dangerous WA prison environments need more resources
The WA Prison Officers’ Union supports recommendations for more appropriate training for prison officers following the Corruption and Crime Commission Reports into inadequate use of force reporting.
Prison officers work in extremely hostile and dang ...
WAPOU calls on government to implement CCC recommendations
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) is calling on the State Government to act immediately on recommendations made in the Corruption and Crime Commission Report on corrupt custodial officers and the risks of contraband entering prisons.
WAPOU Secre ...
WA's overcrowded prisons a disaster waiting to happen
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) warns the alarming number of prisoners in WA compared to the rest of the country is a powder-keg situation ready to explode.
The figures revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show a record 6893 people ...
WA Womens' Prison unsafe - Prison Officers hospitalised
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) is concerned more staff will be seriously injured if action isn’t taken at Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility.
The latest incident where nine prison officers were hospitalised with smoke inhalatio ...
Prison Officers injured during assault
The WA Prison Officers’ Union is offering support to three Prison Officers who were assaulted at Hakea Prison on Wednesday.It’s understood three of the officers were in the process of managing a prisoner, when a struggle occurred resulting in ...
Independent report finds West Kimberley Regional Prison overcrowded and understaffed
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has supported the findings of an independent report by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services into West Kimberley Regional Prison (released yesterday), which found accommodation units at the prison to be over ...
Extra capacity for WA's prison system will help ease overcrowding
The WA Prison Officers Union has welcomed the State Government’s announcement of a further $120 million capital expenditure (equivalent to an additional 672 beds) in the Western Australian prison system.
WAPOU Secretary John Welch applauded today&rs ...
WA prison officers condemn Opposition overtime slur
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has condemned comments made by State Opposition Leader Mike Nahan (The West Australian, 9 December) about overtime being claimed by some public servants, and labelled them as an insult to frontline prison staff. ...
Years of poor planning and lack of investment leave Broome Regional Prison unfit for purpose
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has supported the findings of an independent report into Broome Prison, which found years of poor planning and a lack of capital investment had left the prison unfit for purpose and not of a humane standard.
A report by ...
Report finds overcrowding continues to be a problem at Casuarina Prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has echoed the concerns related to overcrowding at Casuarina Prison that were raised by the Inspector of Custodial Services in his independent report tabled in State Parliament today.
The report by the Inspector of Cust ...
WAPOU hosting first ever Mental Health Seminar for WA Prison Officers
The WA Prison Officers Union (WAPOU) is hosting Western Australia’s first ever, Mental Health Seminar for Prison Officers at the Burswood Crown today.
WAPOU Secretary John Welch described the inaugural event as a bold initiative that for the first t ...
Two officers assaulted at Acacia Prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union is offering support to two Prison Officers who were assaulted at the medium security Acacia prison overnight.
It’s understood the two officers were set upon by a prisoner in one of the units after they tried to ca ...
Liberal National State Government has left WA prison system in a state of crisis
An increase in the prisoner population of over 50% since 2008/2009 has resulted in chronic over crowding of Western Australia’s prisons.
WA Prison Officers’ Union Secretary John Welch said the previous Liberal National State Governme ...