Unions claim Darwin prison is at capacity, as Corrections staff work at Palmerston watch house due to influx of remand prisoners
CORRECTIONS staff are working at the Palmerston watch house due to an influx of remand prisoners, according to NT Corrections.
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CORRECTIONS staff are working at the Palmerston watch house due to an influx of remand prisoners, according to NT Corrections.
NT Corrections deny remand prisoners are being held at the watch house because the prison is full, but unions say there is just a handful of spare beds and not enough to house the group currently at the Palmerston watch house.
NT Correctional Services Acting Commissioner David Thompson said there was sufficient staffing at the prison.
“The issue at the moment is managing the fluctuating numbers of remand and sentenced prisoners within the different sections of the facility,” Mr Thompson said.
“It is normal operational procedure for people to be held on remand in a police watch house, especially at weekends, before being transferred to a custodial facility, being released on bail, or waiting to have their case heard in a court the following week.
He said corrections officers had been restricted to managing remand prisoners.
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However, United Workers Union NT spokeswoman Erina Early said remand prisoners were on remand at the watch house because the prison was full: “Due to the prison being at full capacity and lack of police resources, our correctional officers assisted police with the staffing at the watchtower,” Ms Early said.
“The union is in discussions with Corrections to ensure our members are provided the correct processes and safety measures to work at the watchtower as it is not their usual workplace.”
NT Police Association president Paul McCue said he understood the prison was full and requested the government “advise how they intend to deal with the situation as a matter of urgency”.
“Police staffing is already stretched to capacity, as is demonstrated with the closure of the Darwin watch house, a situation the Police Association does not agree with,” he said.
But NT Police Commander Travis Wurst said there was no staffing issue at the watch house.
“Corrections have provided additional staff resources to ensure the safe custody of any prisoners that are required to be held at the Palmerston Watch House, and also to ensure our staff are adequately supported,” he said.
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Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley said the requirement of corrections staff at the watch house was an example of cops being stretched thin.
“This is yet another example of how our police officers are being stretched beyond breaking point,” he said.
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