Overtime restrictions put prisons at risk

WAPOU is concerned the overtime restrictions from the Department of Justice will leave prisons understaffed and unsafe.

These conditions perfectly match what we saw in the prelude to the Greenough Regional Prison riots in 2018 and last week’s incident at the West Kimberley Regional Prison, which could have sparked a similar riot.

The union understands a prison officer was attempting to restrain a prisoner when another prisoner punched the officer and knocked him to the ground.

From there, the pair jumped an internal fence, where they began throwing rocks and smashing windows. Two more prisoners jumped the fence before the original pair got onto the roof of the prison.

Thanks to the professionalism and bravery of the prison officers on duty, the potential riot was brought under control within a few hours, but if it had escalated, back-up would not have been able to make it in time to save the prison from utter devastation.

WAPOU went to the media to remind the State Government not to get complacent by putting restrictions on overtime.

The lessons from Greenough need to be taken seriously and prisons must be staffed adequately.