❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses a firearm security breach at Hakea Prison involving an M4 assault rifle left in a car park. The response confirms the breach, outlines actions taken, and details procedural changes and disciplinary measures.
AnsweredQoN 5448Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the firearm security breach at Hakea Prison in July 2018 (reported in the Sunday Times 18/8/2019), when a Special Operations Group-owned M4 assault rifle was left in the car park over a weekend, and I ask: (a) Is this normal practice; (b) Was the security of firearms protocol for this weapon followed; (c) If no to (b): (i) When did an officer first notice the breach and report it; (ii) When were you made aware of this incident; (iii) Was the firearm removed from the car and put back in the car during the period of time it is reported to have been in the car, in the car park; (iv) What procedures should have been followed to identify the firearm as missing; (v) Has the Corrective Services Investigation Services Branch, or any other person or group, recommended any changes to procedures in relation to the storage and supervision of firearms; (vi) Has anybody been disciplined in relation to this matter; and (vii) If yes to (vi), what role and rank did the person(s) hold; (d) Who has access to the car park in question; and (e) How many visitors (who were not Corrective Services staff) used the car park during the weekend when the firearm was left in the car?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 October 2019
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Response time
8 days
(a) No.
(b) No, not in full.
(c) (i) A Special Operations Group (SOG) Senior Officer noticed the firearm on 15/07/2018 at 0520hrs and reported it immediately.
(ii) The Minister was advised of the incident in the course of his regular discussions with the Director General of the Department of Justice and Commissioner for Corrective Services.
(iii) No, when noticed, the firearm was immediately removed, returned to the armoury and reported.
(iv) This firearm was one of several being transferred between armouries for training. All firearms were signed back in using a register and then transferred. This firearm should have been checked again against the firearms register when the transfer from the vehicle to the armoury was complete.
(v) Yes, on conclusion of the investigation by the (then) Corrective Services Investigations Branch, new procedures were actioned to prevent this occurring again.
(vi) Yes, on conclusion of the investigation.
(d - e)It is a designated and signposted car park, monitored 24/7 by camera surveillance and SOG staff. Operation vehicles are stored under a covered carport and are not visible from the road. No person other than Corrective Services staff or those on official business are permitted to use the carpark. Any person parking in the car park would be promptly moved on by SOG staff therefore the amount cannot accurately be determined.
(b) No, not in full.
(c) (i) A Special Operations Group (SOG) Senior Officer noticed the firearm on 15/07/2018 at 0520hrs and reported it immediately.
(ii) The Minister was advised of the incident in the course of his regular discussions with the Director General of the Department of Justice and Commissioner for Corrective Services.
(iii) No, when noticed, the firearm was immediately removed, returned to the armoury and reported.
(iv) This firearm was one of several being transferred between armouries for training. All firearms were signed back in using a register and then transferred. This firearm should have been checked again against the firearms register when the transfer from the vehicle to the armoury was complete.
(v) Yes, on conclusion of the investigation by the (then) Corrective Services Investigations Branch, new procedures were actioned to prevent this occurring again.
(vi) Yes, on conclusion of the investigation.
(d - e)It is a designated and signposted car park, monitored 24/7 by camera surveillance and SOG staff. Operation vehicles are stored under a covered carport and are not visible from the road. No person other than Corrective Services staff or those on official business are permitted to use the carpark. Any person parking in the car park would be promptly moved on by SOG staff therefore the amount cannot accurately be determined.
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