Prisoners damage 170 cells, but bosses can’t provide repair bill
A ‘ludicrous’ claim about the damage caused by a riot at one of the state’s biggest jails, which left 170 cells trashed, has been slammed by a major union.
Police & Courts
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Prison officials claim they can’t estimate the damage bill from the Arthur Gorrie jail COVID-19 lockdown riot which trashed 170 cells.
Inmates began damaging their cells – including flooding them and lighting fires – after they were locked in their cells for prolonged periods during a Stage 4 lockdown in September.
It was sparked by three academy officers and two Arthur Gorrie officers contracting the virus.
Some prison officers had been told the damage bill would be in the millions of dollars however a corrective services spokesman said they were unable to provide any figure.
The jail is the state’s remand centre and is one of the biggest in Queensland with more than 1000 prisoners.
When asked about the issue during Estimates, Commissioner Peter Martin said it was “almost impossible” to put a figure on the damage, partly due to the fact remediation work at the jail was already underway before the riot.
But he said 170 cells, or 19 per cent of the prison rooms, had minor to severe damage.
There were 28 cells unable to be used after the riot, 92 with broken external windows and 95 had broken cell door viewing windows, 44 had electrical damage and 11 were fire damaged.
“The reality is that, because we were remediating the site, many of the windows and doors — the things that needed to be replaced — were already earmarked for remediation or rectification as a result of the site that we had inherited when the site migrated to government control on 1 July,” Commissioner Martin told Estimates late last year.
“I can tell you what that totals — I cannot tell you here and now — but the reality is that, regrettably, I cannot tell you what was caused specifically as a result of the damage that occurred back at that time.”
After prisoners trashed their cells they were given lollies, chips and soft drinks in what officers dubbed as “show bags” for criminals.
Prison bosses said the 2000-plus packs were just an interim measure and told officers the packs were to “help restore good order”.
Together Union industrial services director Michael Thomas said the riots cost taxpayers a significant amount of money.
“This is government, all spending has to be authorised,” he said.
“The spending that the department undertook to get the damaged cells back to being able to hold prisoners must’ve been authorised, must’ve been accounted for and must be quantifiable.
“The suggestion the department doesn’t know how much is ludicrous.”
After the riot Mr Martin said the prisoners would be held accountable.
“We always hold the prisoner accountable for the behaviour and also for any damage that occurs,” he said.
“The taxpayer should not have to underwrite this.”
When asked if prisoners had been ordered to pay restitution the QCS spokesman said inmates who intentionally damaged infrastructure faced disciplinary measures and loss of privileges.
“They are also referred to police for consideration of criminal charges. Restitution may be ordered by the court as part of the legal process.”
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