Prison refuses to phase out shoddy, uncomfortable, smelly shoes for inmates

The Tasmania Prison Service is refusing improve the substandard, smelly and uncomfortable footwear it issues to prisoners, ignoring repeated complaints and recommendations, a report has found.

Custodial inspector Richard Connock gives evidence at a Legislative Council inquiry into Tasmanian adult imprisonment and youth detention.

The Tasmania Prison Service is refusing improve the substandard, smelly and uncomfortable footwear it issues to prisoners, ignoring repeated complaints and recommendations, a report has found.

Custodial inspector Richard Connock’s Adult Wellbeing Inspection Report 2024 released on Monday notes that the footwear issued to prisoners is of poor quality, uncomfortable, smells bad and wears out quickly.

“These concerns were also raised in the 2017 inspection report, and at that time I recommended that robust and durable footwear be provided as standard prison issue, and that a secondary pair of footwear such as thongs also be provided,” he wrote.

“While initially supportive of this recommendation, the TPS advised prior to the 2024 inspections that the ‘recommendation was no longer supported’, and that ‘it was determined the footwear provided to people in custody was consistent to that supplied in other jurisdictions and considered sufficient’.

“It is disappointing to note the TPS has reneged on its commitment to make improvements to prison issue footwear, and I strongly urge it to reconsider.”

He repeated his recommendation that the footwear be replaced.

Mr Connock also found that cultural support for Aboriginal people in custody was almost non-existent – although he acknowledged TPS was aware of that.

“The over representation of Aboriginal people in custody is concerning and my inspection team noted that there is a serious lack of cultural support available to them,” he said.

“Reinstating access to cultural leave, which is risk assessed permission to temporarily leave prison to participate in cultural events, is one area that requires particular attention.

“Pleasingly, there have been some improvements with the engagement of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS) to improve cultural and wellbeing support within the prison system.”

Jake Smith, Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO.

TALS chief Jake Smith said more needed to be done as the over representation of Aboriginal people in prison was getting worse.

“While we acknowledge that there has been some improvement, the improvements by the Department of Justice don’t go far enough,” he said.

“We have begun providing wellbeing supports to mob because prior to this, there were no supports at all available,” Mr Smith said.

“These supports are at less than half the identified need, we have and will continue to call on the Tasmanian Prison Service, Department of Justice and the Tasmanian Government to increase the support available for Aboriginal people in custody.”

Mr Connock said his inspection team had concerns about the safety of the LGBTQIA+ people in prison, including reported incidents of bullying and violence towards individuals.

Mr Connock found that more needed to be done to protect members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who he noted were “particularly vulnerable in prison environments.”

“Sadly, following the inspection, we observed evidence of two serious assaults on gay men by other people in custody occurring within the space of a month.

“While we also saw evidence that the TPS is modelling positive leadership, with a couple being able to share a cell and the bullying of a LGBTQIA+ person in custody being proactively addressed, it is important that this continues to be a focus to ensure the safety and welfare of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Equality Tasmania spokesman Rodney Croome said the situation was concerning.

“We are alarmed by repeated cases of abuse and violence against LGBTQIA+ people in Tasmania’s prisons and welcome the Custodial Inspector’s focus on their safety.”

“More training and better policies are required to ensure LGBTQIA+ prisoners aren’t subject to hate-motivated abuse and violence while serving their sentences.”