The Crime and Corruption Commission’s Taskforce Flaxton delivers prison findings

The union representing the state’s private prison officers has called on the Government to act immediately, after a damning report into Queensland jails found significant risk of corruption within the prison system.

The union representing the state’s private prison officers has called on the Government to act immediately, after a damning report into Queensland jails found significant risk of corruption within the prison system.

The CCC’s Taskforce Flaxton found failing to report corruption, inappropriate relationships involving prison staff, excessive force, misuse of authority and smuggled contraband were “particularly evident” in Queensland jails.

Overcrowding and secrecy were also creating corruption risks.

United Voice Queensland said the report backed up members’ claims that “corruption is rife and cover ups are the norm” at private prisons.

“The CCC acknowledges that the Queensland corrective system is failing,” the union’s co-ordinator Damien Davie said.

“There is no accountability or transparency, and multi-national corporations, like GEO (operators of Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre), are putting profits above everything else.

“When serious incidents are referred back to the private prison operators to investigate themselves, something has got to change.”

The Crime and Corruption Commission investigation, released today, recommends broadscale changes to a system that “is not effectively preventing, detecting or dealing” with graft.

“In the CCC’s view, the existing framework operating in Queensland is not effectively preventing, detecting or dealing with corruption risk or corruption in prisons,” CCC boss Alan MacSporran said.

CCC Chairman Alan MacSporran zeros in on jail corruption. Pic Annette Dew

The CCC found a culture of fear and reprisal within the state’s 14 prisons led to corruption allegations been significantly swept under the carpet.

At the “core” of corrupt conduct was inappropriate relationships between prison staff and inmates.

“Inappropriate relationships are cultivated by prisoners, outside associates of prisoners and prison staff through manipulation, intimidation, threats, coercion and cooperation,” the Flaxton report said.

“Motivations … are typically economic, sexual or emotional in nature.”

In recent years the level of contraband found smuggled into prisons has officially increased 116 per cent.

But the real figure is likely to be higher, the report said.

The anti-corruption taskforce was told of prison staff who encourage prisoners to bash other inmates, alter official reports, deny medical help to prisoners and fail to record assaults.

Accessing confidential information without approval and lying on official reports were “significant issues in Queensland prisons”.

Taskforce Flaxton was instigated in March after the CCC received reports of corrupt conduct involving prison staff.

Billie Siolo who works at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, has been charged by the CCC with sourcing and supplying steroids — Picture: Instagram

As revealed by the Courier Mail today Arthur Gorrie prison guard Billie Raven John Siolo, 26, and his former colleague Daniel Jared Arriagada, 29, have since been charged with allegedly peddling steroids in jail.

The State Government said it believes Queensland Corrective Services is well placed to root out corruption within its ranks.

Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan today said the department had entered a “new era” with the recent appointment of Commissioner Peter Martin.

“(Mr Martin) was the former head of the Police Ethical Standards Command and he, like me, holds the firm view that there is no place for unethical behaviour in Queensland’s prison system,” he said today.

“I am confident that Queensland Corrective Services is well-placed to respond to any issues raised by the CCC in its report.”

Mr Ryan said he would respond to the report’s 33 recommendations in the coming month after “serious consideration”.

Today’s release of the report has promoted the Greens to call for an end to privately run prisons.

“Everyone knows privatisation doesn’t work, and the CCC’s report raises yet more red flags,”

Greens State MP Michael Berkman said.

“Labor must now scrap the Gatton women’s prison, and scrap their $1.6 billion prison expansion plan.”

The CCC report made 33 recommendations including:

Strengthening pre-employment screening.

Increasing powers to search prison staff working in prisons.

Reducing high-risk CCTV blind spots.

Increasing body worn cameras in Queensland prisons.

Establishing a discipline unit.