Criminals have been asked to dob in jail officers for corruption in Queensland prisons

MURDERERS, sex offenders and hardened criminals are being urged to dob in jail officers in the lead-up to a widespread inquiry by the state’s corruption watchdog.

Wolston Correctional Centre

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MURDERERS, sex offenders and hardened criminals are being urged to dob in jail officers. in an about-face of the system that has infuriated staff in the lead-up to a widespread inquiry by the state’s corruption watchdog.

Flyers have been posted inside jail blocks urging crims to report if they’ve seen or heard prison staff bring in drugs or phones, assault someone or take bribes, under the heading “help us stop corruption in prisons”.

One officer, who works at Wolston jail which is filled with killers and the worst sex offenders said: “They are blatantly saying we are corrupt.”

It comes as the Crime and Corruption Commission prepares to launch an inquiry with public hearings.

Officers who spoke to The Courier-Mail acknowledged there may be some “bad apples” in Queensland Corrective Services, but feared prisoners may use the inquiry as an opportunity to make vexatious claims.

Officers said they were now filming interactions on body-worn cameras, including conversations around urine tests.

“No objections to prisoners providing evidence as I can’t say there is no corruption,” an officer said.

“But this is open slather as the first officer that says no to a prisoner within the next month will be walked out under a corruption cloud.”

Another officer said the corruption probe should be wider to examine medical staff and management.

In announcing the inquiry and calling for submissions, the CCC said the number of allegations received about corrective services facilities had increased in the past three years.
Investigations of alleged corrupt conduct had identified a number of “possible systemic issues”.

“In particular, the number of allegations received about assaults/excessive uses of force and the misuse of official information have increased,” the CCC said in a document about the inquiry.

“Taskforce Flaxton will examine these issues with a view to raising standards of integrity relevant to detecting, managing and preventing corruption risks associated with Queensland corrective services facilities.”

Together Union industrial services director Michael Thomas said the flyer sent out, which urged prisoners to fill out a survey, was concerning and had been reworded twice after complaints from members.
“The briefing we have received from the CCC is this is looking at processes across corrections.”

The CCC plans to hold public hearings in May.