Border Force ‘needs more powers to avoid deadly’ crisis’ at immigration detention centres

The government has been warned that Border Force officers must be given extra powers to stop dangerous criminals running amok inside the nation’s immigration detention system before the ‘festering crisis’ turns deadly.

Border Force must be given extra powers to stop dangerous criminals running amok inside the nation’s immigration detention system before the “festering crisis” turns deadly.

Opposition spokesman for home affairs James Paterson says the Albanese government has been presiding over “a growing criminal detention crisis” and “failed to provide Border Force the powers they need to protect their officers and the community”.

The call for “urgent attention” comes after the Sunday Telegraph revealed a prison-like culture has developed as the population in the 11 centres across Australia shifts from asylum seekers who arrived by boat to people whose visas have been cancelled on character grounds (see story below).

Assistant Commissioner Onshore Detention Sarah Nicolson said the current cohort “adds a higher degree of volatility and criminal experience into the system”.

“In the past five years we have seen an increasingly higher risk criminal cohort than traditionally, and many detainees have served prison sentences for rape, murder, robbery, and we find ourselves increasingly needing to manage that risk,” she said.

Methamphetamine seized from detainees within the immigration detention system.

“With that type of cohort comes illicit substances, the establishment of drug networks operating inside and outside facilities and standover tactics used,” she said.

“We are seeing narcotics, illicit drugs coming through and that leads to substance-related incidents and regular threats and acts of violence against other detainees, our staff and contractors.”

Detainees have access to telecommunications devices and computers while in detention.

Under existing arrangements, there is no ability for the ABF to restrict access to these items — including dedicated encrypted telecommunications devices.

Currently, the centres serve as administrative detention, with staff unable to make searches of incoming property or detainees for drugs.

Officers can search for hidden weapons and items which may be used for escape and can only confiscate drugs which are found in searches for these purposes.

While some searches are conducted with police, who have greater search and seizure powers, the ABF’s limited powers place additional pressure on police resources.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he was working with Border Force on this issue.

But Mr Paterson said the time for action was now.

“The Albanese government has presided over a growing criminal detention crisis but failed to provide Border Force the powers they need to protect their officers and the community,” he said.

Villawood Detention Centre. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“Federal immigration detention facilities should not be drug-riddled playgrounds for detainees with officers helpless to clean them up.

“Tony Burke must give urgent attention to this festering crisis before someone is seriously hurt.”

Unfortunately, it will be too little too late for a detention centre officer who remains off work after being viciously stabbed by a detainee with a makeshift weapon earlier this year.

The detainee appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to intentionally cause injury, common law assault and assault with a weapon.

To the shock of detention staff he was sentenced to just 39 days time served and then sent back to a detention centre.

A detention centre source said the stabbing shocked the work force and without extra powers: “It’s only a matter of time until someone is killed.”

DETENTION CENTRES RULED BY CRIMINALS NOW

Bikies, mafia heavies and other dangerous offenders are running criminal activity from inside the nation’s immigration detention system, with Australian Border Force officers in many cases forced to sit on their hands.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that 85 per cent of the 918 people held in the country’s immigration detention centres have criminal records and, of those, 59 per cent were slapped with s501 visa cancellations for crimes including child sex offences and domestic violence.

A prison-like culture has developed as the detention centre population shifts from asylum seekers who arrived by boat to people whose visas have been cancelled on character grounds.

Assistant Commissioner Onshore Detention Sarah Nicolson said the current cohort “adds a higher degree of volatility and criminal experience into the system”.

Seized contraband from detainees within the immigration detention system Picture: ABF

Tennis ball filled with cannabis thrown into detention centre Picture: ABF

“In the past five years we have seen an increasingly higher risk criminal cohort than traditionally and many detainees have served prison sentences for rape, murder, robbery, and we find ourselves increasingly needing to manage that risk,” she said.

“With that type of cohort comes illicit substances, the establishment of drug networks operating inside and outside facilities and standover tactics used,” she said.

“We do see alcohol abuse mainly through the home brew kits being brought in through general mail items. We are also seeing narcotics, illicit drugs coming through and that leads to substance related incidents and regular threats and acts of violence against other detainees, our staff and contractors.”

Assistant Commissioner Nicolson said detainees have access to telecommunications devices and computers while in detention. Under existing arrangements, there is no ability for the ABF to restrict access to these items.

Assistant Commissioner Onshore Detention Sarah Nicolson Picture: Supplied

“This includes access to dedicated encrypted telecommunications devices,” she said.

The ABF’s ability to search for illicit substances is limited.

“Officers can search for hidden weapons and items which may be used for escape or self- harm and can only confiscate drugs which are found in searches for these purposes.

And while the 11 centres across the country serve as administrative detention, staff are therefore unable to make searches of incoming property or detainees for drugs.

“If we do run a joint operation with a partner law enforcement agency then we rely on state and territory to be able to search and that places additional pressure on their resources.”

In a stark example of the volatile and dangerous environment detention staff face every day, an officer was stabbed in the neck with an improvised weapon earlier this year.

The detainee was taken into corrections custody and just three weeks later allegedly assaulted a corrections officer.

Methamphetamine is also part of the contraband has been seized. Picture: ABF

The detainee appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to intentionally cause injury, common law assault and assault with a weapon. He was sentenced to time served – 39 days – and released back into detention, where he remains. The detention officer hasn’t returned to duty.

Assistant Commissioner Nicolson said the main goal of Border Force was to ensure safe and secure detention facilities for detainees, visitors and staff and to do that her team was working with the government “to look at what additional powers we need”.

In April the government was asked to make changes to the Migration Act to allow “targeted personal searches and room searches to be conducted where there is reasonable suspicion that drugs are being concealed”.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was contacted for comment on that.

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