❓ Opposition MP questions the Minister for Corrective Services regarding a prison breakout at Bunbury Regional Prison, focusing on security classifications and the pre-release centre. The Minister declines to publicly disclose the method of escape for security reasons.
AnsweredQoN 48Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUNBURY
REGIONAL PRISON — BREAKOUT
48. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for Corrective
Services:
I refer to last night's breakout of two inmates from
Bunbury Regional Prison.
(1) Is it true
that these prisoners, described as dangerous by police, smashed their way
through the pre-release centre administration area using bricks and sacks, and
escaped?
(2) How was it
that such clearly violent prisoners were housed in one of the lowest security
facilities in the state?
(3) Was their
security classification recently downgraded so that they could be shifted to
the pre-release centre to alleviate overcrowding in the highest security part
of the prison?
REGIONAL PRISON — BREAKOUT
48. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for Corrective
Services:
I refer to last night's breakout of two inmates from
Bunbury Regional Prison.
(1) Is it true
that these prisoners, described as dangerous by police, smashed their way
through the pre-release centre administration area using bricks and sacks, and
escaped?
(2) How was it
that such clearly violent prisoners were housed in one of the lowest security
facilities in the state?
(3) Was their
security classification recently downgraded so that they could be shifted to
the pre-release centre to alleviate overcrowding in the highest security part
of the prison?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
First question, no, that is not how they did it; second question, I will get
to; third question, no, they were not downgraded to relieve any stress within
the prison population.
Yes, late last night two prisoners
escaped from the Bunbury pre-release unit. Everyone, including murderers,
eventually—before they get released—gets downgraded and
reassessed on a number of different conditions such as behaviour in custody,
such as psychological condition and such as whether or not they are ready to be
released. They are downgraded and eventually put into a pre-release unit so
that they can be prepared for release into the community. Along with that comes
a lower level of security as they prepare for that. What on earth went through
the minds of a couple of young prisoners last night when they were on the cusp
of being released back into society and decided to break out, I have absolutely
no idea—obviously, not necessarily the brightest sparks! But, look,
they did. What I am not going to disclose publicly is the exact method they
used to get out. The reason is simply because for the protection of the rest of
the people in Western Australia I believe in a certain level of operational
security, as the member for Warnbro would understand.
Mr P. Papalia :
Clearly!
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : If the member for Warnbro wants to have a private
conversation with me after question time, I will go through it. But I am not
going to reveal the exact method to the people of Western Australia.
Mr P. Papalia : I
think the other guys know!
First question, no, that is not how they did it; second question, I will get
to; third question, no, they were not downgraded to relieve any stress within
the prison population.
Yes, late last night two prisoners
escaped from the Bunbury pre-release unit. Everyone, including murderers,
eventually—before they get released—gets downgraded and
reassessed on a number of different conditions such as behaviour in custody,
such as psychological condition and such as whether or not they are ready to be
released. They are downgraded and eventually put into a pre-release unit so
that they can be prepared for release into the community. Along with that comes
a lower level of security as they prepare for that. What on earth went through
the minds of a couple of young prisoners last night when they were on the cusp
of being released back into society and decided to break out, I have absolutely
no idea—obviously, not necessarily the brightest sparks! But, look,
they did. What I am not going to disclose publicly is the exact method they
used to get out. The reason is simply because for the protection of the rest of
the people in Western Australia I believe in a certain level of operational
security, as the member for Warnbro would understand.
Mr P. Papalia :
Clearly!
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : If the member for Warnbro wants to have a private
conversation with me after question time, I will go through it. But I am not
going to reveal the exact method to the people of Western Australia.
Mr P. Papalia : I
think the other guys know!
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