Comment on incident at Hakea Prison
Thursday 09 Mar 2023
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) is offering support to our members following the death in custody of a prisoner at Hakea Prison this morning.
WAPOU Secretary Andy Smith said while it would not be appropriate to comment on the specifics of the circumstances surrounding the incident due to the ongoing WA Police investigation, the Union took any death in custody extremely seriously.
“Incidents of this nature are clearly traumatic and stressful for our members, particularly for those who were first on the scene,” Mr Smith said.
“Tensions have been rising in Hakea Prison for several months now, with overcrowding and understaffing frequently reported.
“In response, our officers have been forced to make adjustments to procedures in order to run the prison.
“Today’s traumatic incident unfortunately demonstrates the risks prison officers face while doing their jobs in a difficult environment.
“WAPOU will support our members through what will now be a lengthy and thorough investigation process.”
CONTACT: Anthony Fisk – 0468 989 250 – anthony@regenstrategic.com.au