Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre: Claims officers tried to block inmates from speaking to inspectors

Staff at a Sydney prison have been accused of attempts to block government inspectors from speaking with inmates, amid calls to stop the training of junior officers at the jail.

Staff at a Sydney prison have been accused of attempts to block government inspectors from speaking with inmates, amid calls to stop the training of junior officers at the jail.

A damning report against the Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre, released this month by the NSW Inspector of Custodial Services, alleged CSNSW staff followed government-appointed reviewers around the western Sydney prison in attempts to deter inmates from giving evidence.

Geoffrey Pearce is in the same corrections complex as women’s prison, Dillwynia Correctional Centre, where rapist prison guard Wayne Astill sexually assaulted inmates before staff allegedly attempted to cover up the attacks.

Ex Prison guard Wayne Gregory Astill at Downing Centre Court in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

“Certain staff followed us around while we were engaging with inmates and appeared to be actively deterring them from speaking to us or taking note of those who did,” Inspector Fiona Rafter said of officers. “We also heard from numerous inmates and staff that inmates were threatened they would be moved … if they complained or questioned decisions.

“Although inmates were reluctant to provide the names of the officers for fear of retribution, we raised these allegations during the inspection, and they were corroborated by a senior member of custodial staff.”

Geoffrey Pearce Correctional centre

Ms Rafter said she contacted the department commissioner to raise concerns around the conduct of a number of staff members at the centre, before the review found a “culture of bullying and harassment between staff … and from staff toward inmates”.

“This had resulted in a high number of staff being on long-term workers’ compensation,” the inspector said, before calling for the department to phase out the use of Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre as a training site for students.

“Given the poor custodial practice we repeatedly observed at the centre, the inspector immediately raised with the Commissioner our concern that Geoffrey Pearce was being used as a training site by the Brush Farm Academy.”

The damning allegations come after three female officers at neighbouring Dillwynia Correctional Centre were charged with allegedly intimidating inmates who were to give evidence into serial rapist prison guard Wayne Astill.

Giovanna Cavaretta, Jacque Maloney, and Leanne Cameron were charged by Strike Force Pylane police, which was set up to investigate the cover-up of information about Astill’s abuse of inmates.

Ex Prison guard Wayne Astill at Downing Centre Court in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Astill was in March last year sentenced to 23 years in prison after he was convicted of 34 charges, including counts of aggravated sexual assault and indecent assault inside Dillwynia Correctional Centre.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, 25-year-old corrections officer Amber Clavell entered guilty pleas to offences relating to a secret affair with inmate Mark Kennedy.

Clavell fell pregnant to the inmate before she was busted smuggling 33 grams of methamphetamine - which had been secreted in her bra – for her secret lover.

Clavell’s friend, and married mother-of-three, Jessica Elguindy also pleaded guilty to engaging in an intimate relationship with an inmate, accessing restricted data, and misconducting herself as a holder of public office.

The disgraced corrections officer confessed her love for inmate Beau Jones via letters which she sent to his contraband phone – as well as photos of herself in various states of undress and pictures of sex toys.

Jessica Elguindy ex prison guard who had an affair with an inmate.

Former corrections officer Amber Clavell avoided jail time for smuggling drugs into prison for her inmate lover. Picture: Seven/Supplied.

A CSNSW spokeswoman told The Telegraph the department “welcomes the Custodial Inspector’s report” following inspections in December 2022 and April this year, and would consider recommendations made.

“The Inspector noted a major positive shift within the correctional centre over this time frame,” she said. “The Inspector also commended the immediate action that was taken.

“In line with the Inspectors recommendation, CSNSW has modified the primary training and Correctional Officers will now undertake placement at their assigned work location. This approach will provide greater supervision and support to trainee officers.”

The department is working with the government on a series of systemic reforms inside NSW prisons.

“We encourage the Inspector, Inspection staff and Official Visitors to report unprofessional behaviour or breaches of policy at the time they occur so CSNSW can address issues contemporaneously,” the spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre: Claims officers tried to block inmates from speaking to inspectors