Page 702 - Week 02 - Thursday, 20 February 2020
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(3) On what dates were staff trained in search procedures relating to firearms.
Mr Rattenbury: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) correctional officers participate in emergency management exercises at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and court cells to ensure response readiness and verify the effectiveness of ACTCS emergency management plans. Under the ACTCS Emergency Management Policy introduced in early 2019, a minimum of six emergency management exercises are conducted each year, including one live exercise and one major incident exercise. While disruption to operations is minimised to ensure minimal impact on detainees, correctional officer participation is a critical factor in these exercises and provides senior operational management with the opportunity to measure staff knowledge and identify areas for improvement.
Full centre lockdowns are not unusual in correctional facilities and may be declared to manage various situations such as power outages, issues with security system functionality or riots. Partial centre lockdowns also occur for various reasons, including during the lunch hour each day, or in response to incidents or uses of force. ACTCS correctional officers are aware of the requirements and processes for initiating a lockdown and many will undertake this task on each day shift for the lunch hour. The lockdown process is the same regardless of the reason. The lockdown that followed the AMC perimeter breach and subsequent emergency declaration followed standard processes despite the extraordinary circumstances that precipitated this action.
(2) Correctional officers are not currently trained in the handling or use of guns (firearms) or other projectile weapons. Correctional officers are trained in the management of prohibited items in accordance with the Corrections Management (Management of Evidence) Operating Procedure 2017. Guns are prohibited items and would be managed according to this procedure.
(3) All correctional officers complete a unit ‘Conduct Searches’ as part of their Certificate III in Correctional Practice. Officers also receive a one-day training in searching during the Custodial Recruit Training course. This training session covers theoretical aspects, practical application of searching techniques, video demonstrations and role play, including the use of props such as drugs and weapons.
Alexander Maconochie Centre—interstate assistance
(Question No 2869)
Mrs Jones asked the Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, upon notice, on 29 November 2019:
In relation to the recent emergency declaration at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (a) how many staff from interstate were brought in to assist during the emergency declaration period, (b) what duties did these interstate staff perform, (c) how much was spent on this staffing and (d) which states and departments were these staff from.
Mr Rattenbury: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
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