❓ Mr. Papalia questions the Minister for Corrective Services regarding the routine strip-searching of juveniles at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, citing concerns raised by the Inspector of Custodial Services and the President of the Children's Court. The Minister acknowledges the concerns and states the department is reviewing the practice.
AnsweredQoN 398Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BANKSIA HILL DETENTION CENTRE RIOT — INSPECTOR OF CUSTODIAL
SERVICES REPORT
398. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for Corrective
Services:
I refer to yesterday's
report by the Inspector of Custodial Services into the Banksia Hill Detention
Centre fiasco, specifically the findings in relation to juveniles, many of whom
have been victims of sexual abuse and are being routinely strip searched
unnecessarily.
(1) Why are
juveniles routinely strip searched four times a day when they are transferred
from Hakea to Banksia Hill on the way to a court appearance and on their
return, despite the fact they remain within a secure environment the entire
time?
(2) Why has the
minister allowed the practice of routine strip searching on every occasion a
juvenile is transferred between Hakea and Banksia Hill, despite a June 2008
Inspector of Custodial Services report saying that it could not be justified
and more recently on 27 March this year the President of the Children's
Court telling the Supreme Court that, in his view, it is totally unacceptable?
(3) Why was a
juvenile who had been incarcerated for only four months between 21 January and
28 June this year strip searched 62 times—an average of 15 times per
month?
SERVICES REPORT
398. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for Corrective
Services:
I refer to yesterday's
report by the Inspector of Custodial Services into the Banksia Hill Detention
Centre fiasco, specifically the findings in relation to juveniles, many of whom
have been victims of sexual abuse and are being routinely strip searched
unnecessarily.
(1) Why are
juveniles routinely strip searched four times a day when they are transferred
from Hakea to Banksia Hill on the way to a court appearance and on their
return, despite the fact they remain within a secure environment the entire
time?
(2) Why has the
minister allowed the practice of routine strip searching on every occasion a
juvenile is transferred between Hakea and Banksia Hill, despite a June 2008
Inspector of Custodial Services report saying that it could not be justified
and more recently on 27 March this year the President of the Children's
Court telling the Supreme Court that, in his view, it is totally unacceptable?
(3) Why was a
juvenile who had been incarcerated for only four months between 21 January and
28 June this year strip searched 62 times—an average of 15 times per
month?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(3) As
I said yesterday, there are 35 recommendations in this report. In the next
couple of weeks the government will consider all of them and will respond to
them accordingly. On the issue of strip searching of juveniles —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : This is essentially —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Why didn't you front on 6PR this morning?
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : I did.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen,
I do not need a running commentary on everything that happens here.
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : I am pretty sure I was on 6PR this morning about 11 o'clock,
if the member had opened her ears.
Let me get back to the issue of
strip searching. It is essentially an operational matter. The decisions on
strip searching juveniles are made by the risk that is determined by the youth
custodial officers in charge of them. Having said that, I will not cop out of
it; it is alarming that it seems to be a little bit excessive. The department
is reviewing that procedure. We have had conversations with the commissioner
and the executive team already on the issue of strip searching juveniles and
they will review the practice. Certainly, from my personal point of view, if a juvenile
does not leave the custody of the detainees, of course, we have to question
whether there is a need. If they have had no interaction with anyone else other
than the youth custodial officers and the people who are guarding at the time,
we will look at this. As I said, we will look at all the recommendations in
this report and report to Parliament in the coming weeks on many of the issues
that have been referred to in this report. It is a significant report; there
are 35 recommendations in it that the government will give due and proper
consideration to in the coming weeks.
(1)–(3) As
I said yesterday, there are 35 recommendations in this report. In the next
couple of weeks the government will consider all of them and will respond to
them accordingly. On the issue of strip searching of juveniles —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : This is essentially —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Why didn't you front on 6PR this morning?
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : I did.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen,
I do not need a running commentary on everything that happens here.
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : I am pretty sure I was on 6PR this morning about 11 o'clock,
if the member had opened her ears.
Let me get back to the issue of
strip searching. It is essentially an operational matter. The decisions on
strip searching juveniles are made by the risk that is determined by the youth
custodial officers in charge of them. Having said that, I will not cop out of
it; it is alarming that it seems to be a little bit excessive. The department
is reviewing that procedure. We have had conversations with the commissioner
and the executive team already on the issue of strip searching juveniles and
they will review the practice. Certainly, from my personal point of view, if a juvenile
does not leave the custody of the detainees, of course, we have to question
whether there is a need. If they have had no interaction with anyone else other
than the youth custodial officers and the people who are guarding at the time,
we will look at this. As I said, we will look at all the recommendations in
this report and report to Parliament in the coming weeks on many of the issues
that have been referred to in this report. It is a significant report; there
are 35 recommendations in it that the government will give due and proper
consideration to in the coming weeks.
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