Secret plans stolen by inmate could have been used to plan escape, smuggle contraband

PRISON officials at Parklea jail had no idea that secret plans for offices in a new maximum security wing had been stolen until they were found with an inmate at another jail, it has been claimed.

PRISON officials at Parklea jail had no idea that secret plans for offices in a new maximum security wing had been stolen until they were found with an inmate at another jail, it has been claimed.

The prisoner was able to simply pick up the plans from the privately-run jail’s administration building where a manager assumed they had been misplaced and did not report them missing.

He was moved to Bathurst jail and then to Silverwater before they were found in his cell last week.

The top secret documents were smuggled out of Parklea prison. Picture: Supplied

Prison sources said that despite NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin saying he had “no security concerns whatsoever, the documents could have been used to plan an escape, smuggle contraband or tap in to plumbing and phones.

“Rule 101 in a prison, never assume anything and always report security related matters,” a source said today.

Corrective Services have been approached for a comment on the claims that the documents were not reported missing.

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It is the latest security breach at Parklea as operator GEO Group struggles to retain the contract, now up for tender.

“The prisoner didn’t have the plans to do an arts course, he had them because he was up to no good,” a source said.

The documents could have been used to plan an escape, smuggle contraband or tap in to plumbing and phones, sources said yesterday.

Opposition justice spokesman Guy Zangari said the incident is beyond a joke. Picture: AAP Image/Carmela Roche

One plan showed details ­inside an office for an area manager­ and others, while ­another was for demountable buildings.

John Heffernan, who once presided over one of the state’s toughest jails, said inmates were sometimes involved with helping builders and it was possible the man had picked up the plans and taken them — but that this should never have happened.

“How could this inmate walk out of a prison with these documents?” the former Grafton jail governor said.

The state government has just ordered a full parliamentary inquiry into Parklea jail amid allegations of corruption and drug trafficking.

Opposition justice spokesman Guy Zangari said the new wing, which will house 500 maximum security prisoners, had been compromised.

“This is beyond a joke,” Mr Zangari said.

Mr Severin said the plans were for an “off-the-shelf demountable” to be temporarily located at Parklea during construction for site security­ staff and removed before­ the new wing became operational. “There is no ­inmate access to this demountable building and no security concerns whatsoever,” he said.