NT Police watch houses used as makeshift prisons amid overcrowding

Police watch houses across the Territory are being used as makeshift jails as NT prisons struggle with increasing prisoner numbers, sparking concerns riots could turn deadly.

Potentially dangerous male offenders are being turned away from prison as Territory jails struggle to keep up with the NT’s increasing prisoner numbers, it can be revealed.

Darwin Correctional Centre is no longer housing new male prisoners, with police watch houses across the NT being used as makeshift prisons in the interim.

In a statement, Deputy Police Commissioner Michael Murphy confirmed Palmerston watch house was being used to accommodate people on remand.

According to statistics from the Attorney-General’s Department Darwin Correctional Centre was holding 1234 prisoners - just 16 shy of its 1250 capacity - on January 10.

Darwin Correctional Centre will not accept new male prisoners as police watch houses across the Territory are being used to house an increasing number of prisoners.

However, a prison officer at Darwin Correctional Centre, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said those figures were “smudged” due to prisoners being temporarily in hospital.

“We can be at 1234 and still be full,” they said.

It is understood only four free female beds were available at the prison on Tuesday.

The officer said overcrowding had reached the worst levels in a long time after “continually knocking at the door.”

“The officers are overworked,” they said.

They said using watch houses was only a short-term fix.

“We’re taking police officers of the streets,” they said.

Alice Springs Correctional Centre was over its capacity on Tuesday.

Mr Murphy said no additional security measures were required in watch houses.

“There are existing policies and protocols in place to ensure the safety of both prisoners and staff for prisoner management and during times of co-use of police watch houses.”

The Alice Springs watch house was also being used to accommodate extra numbers, with the town’s prison over its capacity of 650 on Tuesday.

Watch houses in Katherine and Tennant Creek were also being used to house prisoners.

“NT Police continue to work closely with corrections to ensure sufficient facilities and staffing levels are provided when this occurs,” Mr Murphy said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said no additional security measures were required in watch houses. Picture: Floss Adams.

A corrections spokesman said the agency is working with the NT government on “a number of short and long-term options that address increasing prisoner numbers and operational demands”.

However, the department would not comment on specific measures being taken due to “security reasons”.

The prison officer at Darwin Correctional Centre said the combination of overcrowding and a lack of resources meant guards were fearful a riot at the facility would violently escalate as assaults increased.

“They’re going to see another riot and they’ll burn down the place,” they said.

“How long is it going to take?”

Originally published as NT Police watch houses used as makeshift prisons amid overcrowding