Revealed: How Graham John Enniss escaped from Risdon Prison

It has been revealed in State Parliament how it is believed a Risdon Prison inmate escaped.

Search for Risdon Prison escapee Graham John Enniss. Risdon Prison generic photos. Picture: Zak Simmonds

IT’S been revealed a Risdon Prison escapee who is still on the run moved some scaffolding to allow him to jump over the prison fence.

In State Parliament this morning Labor has questioned the State Government’s ability to keep Tasmanians safe, following the escape of Risdon inmate Graham John Enniss yesterday.

Escaped prisoner Graham John Enniss.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White also highlighted yesterday’s escape from Burnie police station and the prisoner who spent 12 days at large recently after slipping away from officers at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“How can you claim to be tough on crime when so many violent criminals are free to roam the streets?” Ms White said.

“ (Enniss) reportedly moved some scaffolding so he could jump over the fence and escape into the community … the community is not feeling safe under your government. They are feeling scared.”

Premier Will Hodgman said the State Government was moving to beef up security at the prison in the wake of the escape.

Premier Will Hodgman. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“Community safety is an absolute priority for this government. We are being fully briefed on this matter … immediate action was taken following the escape of the prisoner that remains unapprehended. All prisoner leave passes have been suspended and will be reviewed,” he said.

Mr Hodgman said the prison service was reviewing the security of the Risdon facility and assessing the status of prisoners in minimum security.

Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad asked if Enniss or any other dangerous inmates were in minimum security because maximum was at 106 per cent capacity yesterday and medium was at 99 per cent capacity.

Mr Hodgman attacked Labor’s opposition to the Liberals’ tough-on-crime legislative agenda.

“Every step of the way (Labor has) argued against keeping prisoners in jail,” he said.

Mr Hodgman did not address the issue of prison capacity.