State’s worst criminals set to be shifted to new jail in one of the biggest mass prisoner transfers in Victorian history
Gangland figures, murderers and bikies are set to be moved to a new jail under heavily armed escort in one of the biggest mass prisoner transfers in Victorian history.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Armoured vehicles will be used to move some of the state’s most dangerous criminals in one of the biggest mass prisoner transfers in Victorian history.
Gangland figures, murderers and bikies will be shifted to a new jail under heavily armed escort in a massive security undertaking for Corrections Victoria.
The staggered move will relocate about 900 inmates from Port Phillip Prison in Melbourne’s west to the new $1.1bn Western Plains Correctional Centre, near Geelong.
Some of Victoria’s most dangerous offenders – including killers, high-level drug traffickers, terrorists and powerful organised crime figures – are likely to be among them.
Many are the subject of the highest level of security when it comes to escorts.
One section of Port Phillip Prison houses Comanchero bikies, who are expected to be moved together.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are separated inside the corrections system to avoid conflict.
Terrorist Aran Sherani has been detained for some time at PPP, while murderer Gregory Brazel is also believed to be an inmate.
Mass killer Julian Knight was also known to have been locked up in the notorious prison.
Tobacco wars standover man Ahmad Al Essawi is another at the Truganina facility.
An armoured Sherpa will be used to transport some of the more high risk prisoners.
About 12 prisoners at a time will be driven 45 minutes to the brand new prison in Lara, with a total of 40 prisoners relocated in the first week.
Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan said the prisoners would be transferred “very carefully”.
“Transferring prisoners is no easy task, especially when you’re dealing with a maximum security cohort,” he said.
So far, Corrections Victoria has only been able to attract 485 staff out of a total of 728 which will be required by the end of the year.
However, Corrections Victoria Commissioner Larissa Strong said she was confident they would be able to secure the additional 243 within the coming months.
While the prison officially opened its doors on Thursday, it was already temporarily housing 20 inmates from neighbouring Barwon Prison following a suspected carbon monoxide leak.
The inmates will be returned in the coming weeks.
By the end of the year, about 900 prisoners will have been rehoused at the 1248-bed Lara facility.
Shadow corrections minister David Southwick slammed the government over its plan to close Port Phillip before bringing the full suite of beds online, noting they would be at least 200 beds short.
“No matter how Labor tries to spin this, they’ve crippled our correctional capacity, and more serious offenders will be back on the streets because of it,” he said.
It comes as the state government braces for an influx of inmates amid an ongoing rollout of tougher bail laws.
Prior to this month, Western Plains has sat empty for almost three years at an estimated price tag of $35 million per year for patrolling and maintenance.
The Herald Sun revealed last week that the state’s largest prison hospital at Port Phillip would remain open when the maximum security facility closes later this year.
The St John’s medical unit is double the size of the facility at the brand new Western Plains prison.
Its decision came amid fears of a surge in killers and rapists being treated in public hospitals.
More Coverage
Originally published as State’s worst criminals set to be shifted to new jail in one of the biggest mass prisoner transfers in Victorian history
‘Too much crime’: New top cop’s plan to make Victoria safe again
Mike Bush has revealed his key priorities as he was officially sworn in as Chief Commissioner, promising to tackle the state’s out-of-control crime wave and restore the public’s faith in the force.
Major disruptions plague landmark Metro Tunnel test run
Commuters have faced major delays and been left stuck at platforms after a series of incidents marred the Metro Tunnel’s landmark end-to-end trial on Saturday.