Prison boss Matthew Varley details life inside Darwin watch house during prison takeover

Territorians are spending up to 14 days locked up in a ‘police prison’ as Corrections overflow takes over Darwin watch houses. Read what life is like for those on the inside.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said due to surging prison populations, Territorians had been locked up in the Darwin city watch house for the past three months. Photograph: Che Chorley

The Territory’s prison boss has detailed life for more than 40 men locked up in a temporary “police prison” in Darwin, saying they cannot see loved ones and spend more time in lockup.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley told estimates surging prisoner numbers meant Territorians had been behind bars in the Darwin city watch house for the past three months.

Mr Varley said the police facility designed for short-term stays was being used to house prisoners for up to 14 days.

He said the 40 men held in the “police prison” were low-security prisoners, who either were about to be released or “in rotation” between the watch house and Holtze.

“Generally speaking, they are lower security prisoners we have identified as coming to the end of their sentence — within the next 14 days or a short time thereafter,” he said.

“We have to manage it carefully and make sure people do not stay too long.”

Mr Varley told estimates on Tuesday that the police facility for short-term stays was being used to house prisoners for up to 14 days. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Varley said the 40 men were split between 16 cells — an average of two or three to a cell — with just four shower cubicles between them.

Attorney-General Chansey Paech told the committee the Darwin city watch house was staffed by Corrections workers, with five officers during the day and four at night.

“We have to appropriately resource with staff to accommodate a schedule of peoples’ allocated time to have a shower,” he said.

Mr Varley said adjustments had been made to the short-term facility to make it “fit for our purposes”.

Due to the lack of kitchen facilities, Mr Varley said prisoners were provided with food packs at no extra cost.

Mr Varley said unlike the prison, no visitors were allowed into the watch house due to security issues.

“We provide them additional free mail services and those sorts of things to stay in touch with loved ones,” he said.

Mr Varley said Corrections had installed exercise and sports equipment as well as recreational activities, however he said there was no “outdoor sunshine exercise”.

Mr Varley said adjustments had been made to the Darwin City watch house to make the short-term facility “fit for our purposes”. Photograph: Che Chorley

“We have access to a fenced exercise yard which has fresh air, but the watch house is part of a much bigger building and we are limited to where we can take the prisoners outside,” he said.

Estimates also heard that Darwin watch house prisoners had access to less time outside their cells.

Mr Paech said the average time of a prisoner out of a cell at Darwin watch house was 9.5 hours, compared to 11.7 in prison.

It comes as Corrections continues to experience surging prison numbers, driven by high arrest rates.

Acting deputy Police Commissioner Michael White told estimates last week police had recorded the highest ever arrest rate — with no sign of a downward trend. Picture: Jason Walls

NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White told estimates last week the force had recorded its highest ever arrest rate — with no sign of a downward trend.

“The apprehension rate and the number of people in custody are at the highest levels we have ever experienced in the Northern Territory,” he said.

“We could keep continuing to see that increase.

“The risk for both NT Police and Corrections is significant.”

While Mr White told estimates the “police prison” arrangement was expected to end in July, Mr Paech said on Tuesday that would be dependent on prison populations.

“If we do not have the population or if there is a substantial number of beds available in correctional centres, we would not look to extend that,” Mr Paech said.

Attorney-General Chansey Paech said the Darwin city watch house was staffed by Corrections workers, with five officers during the day and four at night. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Varley told estimates that as of Tuesday there were 1270 prisoners at the Darwin Correctional Facility — 222 over its design capacity — and 654 prisoners in Alice Springs, 178 over capacity.

There were also 73 at the Barkly Work Camp and 49 at the Datjala work camp — alongside the 40 prisoners spilling over into the watch house.

Mr Varley said under pressure to meet the rising demand, Corrections had installed bunk beds in cells, converted single rooms to twins, relocated the gym and converted reception areas and mental health wards for general population beds.

Even then, he said as of June 19 there were 68 people with “unallocated beds”.

“We still have people on mattresses on the floor, unfortunately,” he said.

“That is because we had to work quickly to manage the installation of bed frames into the priority expansion areas.”

Mr Varley said the current set-up needed to change, with Correction’s own 10-year plan highlighting the need for alternatives to custody.

“That is why we are also investing in things like bail support accommodation or alternatives to custody,” he said.

“Prison capacity is but one part of the broader equation.”

Mr Paech said the current cost of locking a prisoner up in Holtze was $358 a day.

He said the net cost in Alice Springs prison was $236 a day, the Barkly Work Camp was $219, while Datjala was $220 per day.

“It is a higher level of cost attributable to the additional cost of running the public – private partnership in Darwin,” Mr Paech said.

Originally published as Prison boss Matthew Varley details life inside Darwin watch house during prison takeover