BROOME REGIONAL PRISON YET TO DEMONSTRATE SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT

For many years Broome Regional Prison has been ignored and neglected by the Department of Corrective Services while the infrastructure became inadequate to the increasing number of Kimberley prisoners and antagonistic to basic humanity and decency. The inadequate holding capacity of Broome Prison has resulted in almost 70 per cent of the predominantly Aboriginal prisoners from the Kimberley being transported 'out of country' to southern prisons, resulting in significant distress due to separation from family, community and land. And, the reality for the bulk of prisoners held at Broome prison is that the accommodation, notwithstanding the recent upgrade of parts of the prison, is still well below acceptable standards.

In the months preceding the current inspection the prison was overcrowded, acutely under-staffed, and subject to ongoing reports of bullying and racism. These concerns, along with a lack of progress against the recommendations of the previous inspection in March 2007, required a response. Consequently, this Office conducted a short-notice follow-up inspection of Broome Prison in May 2008.

In summary, the key findings of the short follow-up inspection were to confirm that racist, prejudice and culturally insensitive behaviour persisted at the prison; the prison was still beset by ongoing staff shortages; and there continued to be a lack of leadership in the prison.

However it must be acknowledged that since May this year there has been some progress in relation to the recommendations of Report 56. The Department has bolstered the management team at Broome and staffing levels at the prison have been significantly improved both for custodial and non-custodial staff. The largely completed infrastructure up-grade of the prison has also made significant improvements to the secure section of the prison, the health centre, and the education and programs facilities; with improvements to the women's section to follow.

These developments are to be applauded. However, they need to be supplemented and maintained before this Office will be persuaded that the Department's longstanding neglect of Broome Prison has ended. Further, basic decency and human rights will continue to be at risk at the prison without sustained culture change and strong positive leadership within the prison.

The decrepit state of the main accommodation section of Broome Prison and the number of Kimberley prisoners held out of country also highlights the inescapable fact that a second prison in the Kimberley is urgently needed and long-overdue. The decision to build a second Kimberley prison at Derby, announced by the previous Government and supported by this Office, needs to be progressed.

Barry Cram
Acting Inspector of Custodial Services
18 December 2008

Barry Cram will be available for comment from 12 noon on Thursday 18 December and can be
contacted on 9212 6200 or 0403 387 441.
The full Report will be available on the Inspector's website (www.custodialinspector.wa.gov.au)