Page 1131 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2015
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The fact that mobile phones have emerged as a contraband issue over the last decade is also neither news nor a surprise. The fact that corrections agencies around the country are having to investigate new ways to manage this technological change to contraband management should also be no surprise.
As my amendment notes, if Mr Wall, and in fact any member of the Assembly, would like information on the operation of the AMC and the issues facing ACT Corrective Services, all they need to do is ask.
Mr Wall’s motion makes specific reference to providing members of the Assembly with briefings upon request. However, as he is well aware, I have always supported the directorate providing him with briefings, including by ACT Corrective Services managers and the executive director, and this has occurred on a number of occasions. However, now that we are debating this motion in the Assembly, there are a number of points that I will need to raise in this place to address the comments made by Mr Wall.
The first point is that ACT Corrective Services undertakes a range of activities to prevent the entry of contraband to the AMC. Corrective Services works closely with ACT Policing in support of drug and contraband interdiction measures, including providing assistance with the execution of search warrants at the AMC and the ongoing exchange of information and intelligence. The AMC also has various physical and static security measures to contain detainees and prevent entry of prohibited items.
The AMC’s perimeter is approximately 1.3 kilometres in length and uses various security measures, including closed-circuit television surveillance, as well as providing a physical barrier in the form of two 4.2-metre-high fences. The AMC uses more than 300 CCTV cameras to monitor the perimeter and the movement and behaviour of detainees in the prison. There are also internal fences separating various campuses and buildings within the prison to assist in restricting access to contraband.
ACT Corrective Services searches visitors, corrections staff, ACT Health staff and contractors and their belongings entering the AMC. This is done using metal detectors, an X-ray baggage scanner to scan property, an itemiser to detect traces of drugs and explosives, and physical searches of all vehicles prior to entering and exiting the AMC, including use of mirrors to search under the vehicles and random canine searches. I should note, of course, that there are examples where this is not the case. That might be, for example, an ambulance in the case of an emergency.
There are many such measures in place. In some circumstances it is necessary to stripsearch detainees. AMC custodial staff are required to check the grounds each morning before detainees are released from their cells. The AMC perimeter is also patrolled on a regular basis. All of these security measures are complemented by the use of corrections intelligence staff, officers and the K-9 passive alert sniffer dog unit working together to prevent or intercept contraband before its entry into the AMC.
Detainees caught with any contraband, including mobile phones, are subject to discipline measures, including withdrawal of privileges, loss of access to contact visits or restricted visits. Matters like this are also referred to ACT Policing.
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