Adelaide Remand Centre operator Serco fined $100,000 over prisoner’s daring escape

The operator of Adelaide’s Remand Centre has copped a fine over an escape by a prisoner last month but investigations into the daring daylight dash are continuing.

The private operator of the Adelaide Remand Centre, Serco, has been fined $100,000 over a daring prison escape last month.

Police and corrections Minister Vincent Tarzia confirmed the fine as he said investigations into the escape were continuing.

The State Opposition called for answers yesterday - on the one month anniversary of the escape, in which a prisoner escaped from the Adelaide Remand Centre, in the CBD, by bending window louvres in the kitchen area, before scaling down a wall in rope made from pants and a T-shirt.

Jason Burdon, 33, was apprehended and arrested, a day and a half after his daring escape, that had occurred just before 10am on December 2 2020.

Opposition correctional services spokesman Lee Odenwalder said South Australians deserve to know how a dangerous prisoner was able to so easily escape from the privatised Adelaide Remand Centre.

“We need to know what went wrong so we can prevent another escape in the future,” Mr Odenwalder said.

Jason Burdon, who escaped from the Adelaide Remand Centre in early December 2020.

“We know that the private company Serco has slashed jobs at the Adelaide Remand Centre.”

Mr Tarzia said he is continuing to get updates from the Department of Correctional Services with “thorough and comprehensive investigations” continuing.

“I have met with Serco on a number of occasions including with the CEO of Serco Asia Pacific,” Mr Tarzia said.

“Serco is under no illusion of the Government’s expectations.”

Mr Tarzia’s office confirmed Serco had been penalised $100,000 for the escape, as part of its contractual obligations with the State Government.

A spokesman for Serco said they would not be making any further comments until the inquiry is completed.