Prison security shake-up looms post-Wayne Astill inquiry

More CCTV and extra dog units are expected as part of a huge shake-up of security systems in the NSW prison network when a report into jailed former corrections officer Wayne Astill is released next year.

A massive shake-up of security systems across the state’s prison network — including more CCTV and dog units — is being tipped when a commission of inquiry report into jailed former corrections officer Wayne Astill is released next year.

The Saturday Telegraph has confirmed that the report from the inquiry into offending by Astill has been pushed back to next year.

Special inquiry commissioner Peter McClellan was expected to have issued a report that was due to be delivered to Corrective Services Minister Anoulack Chanthivong by December 15.

However, an inquiry spokesperson said the reporting date had been extended to February 29 next year.

Astill was jailed for a maximum of 23 years earlier this year for abusing his position and assaulting women at the Dillwynia correctional centre for several years.

Former prison guard Wayne Astill was jailed for 23 years. Picture: Dylan Coker

More security, including dog patrols, are expected in the wake of the Astill inquiry.

Astill, a prison officer and then chief correctional officer at the prison, was found guilty last year of 27 charges, including aggravated sexual and indecent assault.

The inquiry has been looking into what staff and prison management knew about Astill’s offending.

There are questions as to who will oversee the proposed overhaul should NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran not return from leave.

Mr Corcoran, who had been the assistant commissioner at the time of Astill’s offending, blamed a “whole range of failures” as to how it was allowed to occur.

While he had been aware of problems with the management of the prison, he said he had very little capacity to do anything about the issues.

“What we have in these correctional centres are very senior staff who are paid at mid-level (salaries),” Mr Corcoran told the inquiry last month.

“We expect those particular officers to be able to operate independently, to be role models for staff, to ensure that behaviours are appropriate, to report things through.”

He rejected suggestions he was ultimately responsible for the continued abuse at the jail, despite his senior role, although said he took responsibility for “some of those failures”.

Mr Corcoran has since gone on leave.

The Saturday Telegraph does not suggest any wrongdoing on Mr Corcoran’s part. Mr Corcoran was unable to be contacted.

Prison sources say they are expecting major changes to occur in the wake of the inquiry.

The wide ranging changes would include a statewide audit of CCTV cameras, more K9 units to help detect contraband and greater rotation of prison officers across the different jails.

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