❓ Question addresses prisoner safety, specifically regarding body-worn cameras, CCTV coverage at Hakea Prison, implementation of Inspector's recommendations, and the death of an Indigenous prisoner. The answer provides updates on the status of these issues, citing ongoing investigations and planning.
AnsweredQoN 702Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to prisoner safety, and I ask: (a) the Office of the Inspector
of Custodial Services has recommended that body worn cameras be introduced in
prisons across the state, why hasn’t this recommendation been implemented; (b) when will the Government
commit rolling out body worn cameras to ensure the safety of prisoners; (c) the Office of the Inspector
of Custodial Services has previously described CCTV coverage at Hakea as
“rather poor with many blind spots”, please provide an update on the status of
CCTV coverage at Hakea Prison; (d) will the Government commit
to implementing all recommendations made by the Office of the Inspector of
Custodial Services in ‘Use of force against prisoners in Western Australia’ by
the stated timeframes; and (e) with respect to the recent
death of Ricky Lee Cound in Hakea Prison, a young First Nations man, does the
Government find it acceptable that he was placed in lockdown for weeks without
proper monitoring, despite the fact he had been self-harming in the lead up to
his death and in recovery from Covid-19, as reported on numerous occasions to
prison officials by Mr Cound’s family prior to his death?
of Custodial Services has recommended that body worn cameras be introduced in
prisons across the state, why hasn’t this recommendation been implemented; (b) when will the Government
commit rolling out body worn cameras to ensure the safety of prisoners; (c) the Office of the Inspector
of Custodial Services has previously described CCTV coverage at Hakea as
“rather poor with many blind spots”, please provide an update on the status of
CCTV coverage at Hakea Prison; (d) will the Government commit
to implementing all recommendations made by the Office of the Inspector of
Custodial Services in ‘Use of force against prisoners in Western Australia’ by
the stated timeframes; and (e) with respect to the recent
death of Ricky Lee Cound in Hakea Prison, a young First Nations man, does the
Government find it acceptable that he was placed in lockdown for weeks without
proper monitoring, despite the fact he had been self-harming in the lead up to
his death and in recovery from Covid-19, as reported on numerous occasions to
prison officials by Mr Cound’s family prior to his death?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 May 2022
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
2 days
(a) The introduction of this body worn cameras requires significant research and planning to ensure that any chosen technology is cost effective and fit for purpose within custodial facilities and footage can be easily uploaded, managed and reviewed. The use of such technology also requires the development of robust policies and procedures to ensure consistent use of the technology across all custodial facilities.
(b) The implementation of the body worn cameras is part of the Department's Long-Term Custodial Technology Plan (LTCTS).
(c) CCTV coverage continues to be an integral component of the multi-faceted security measures used at Hakea Prison. It would be detrimental to the ongoing security environment at Hakea Prison to provide specific details on the status of CCTV coverage at the facility.
(d) The Review into Use of Force against prisoners in Western Australian contained eight recommendations of which the Department supported seven. Six of those recommendations have now been completed. The final recommendation regarding body worn cameras is being progress as outlined in answer (b).
(e) All of the circumstances of the recent death of a prisoner at Hakea Prison are being investigated by the Western Australian Police Force and will be the subject of a Coronial Inquest, and as such it is not appropriate to comment further.
(b) The implementation of the body worn cameras is part of the Department's Long-Term Custodial Technology Plan (LTCTS).
(c) CCTV coverage continues to be an integral component of the multi-faceted security measures used at Hakea Prison. It would be detrimental to the ongoing security environment at Hakea Prison to provide specific details on the status of CCTV coverage at the facility.
(d) The Review into Use of Force against prisoners in Western Australian contained eight recommendations of which the Department supported seven. Six of those recommendations have now been completed. The final recommendation regarding body worn cameras is being progress as outlined in answer (b).
(e) All of the circumstances of the recent death of a prisoner at Hakea Prison are being investigated by the Western Australian Police Force and will be the subject of a Coronial Inquest, and as such it is not appropriate to comment further.
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