Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Correctional Services Officers CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK Legislative Council CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (18 February 2009). The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Correctional Services is advised: During question time, the former Minister undertook to investigate a claim relating to correctional officer equipment. The following information has been provided: Over the past 18 months the Department for Correctional Services has recruited record numbers of Trainee Correctional Officers all of whom have been required to undertake extensive training. During the training course, Trainee Officers are provided with all the standard equipment necessary to carry out their role as a Custodial Officer. This equipment includes uniform, belt, shoes, hat and radio pouch. Other items of equipment, including radios, duress alarms, handcuffs and keys are issued to staff on a daily basis to enable them to satisfy the responsibilities of their position. For security reasons none of these items are assigned as personal issue nor are they allowed to leave the prison. In mid 2008 the Department became aware that further supplies of some general issue equipment (handcuffs, keys, radios, duress alarms) were required. The Department remedied the issue without delay and also conducted a state wide review of equipment to confirm with General Managers that all prisons had sufficient equipment. All subsequent requests by General Managers were met and this was confirmed at various Central Consultative Committee meetings with the PSA, who had raised the issue. It is not viable, nor is it necessary, to have an unlimited number of key bunches, radios, handcuffs and duress alarms (they are coded to an area rather than a person) available. Every officer who is rostered to a particular post has all of the equipment he or she needs. If a Trainee Officer is also rostered to that post, they may not have a radio or key bunch but they are always accompanied by an officer who has the equipment. This practice is consistent with standard practice throughout corrections. The principle being that whilst you are a trainee, you work with an experienced fully equipped member of staff. A process has now been initiated that ensures all increases in prisoner and staffing numbers automatically triggers a review of equipment for that site, to ensure there is sufficient equipment to effectively manage the prison. I also note that the Honourable Member has made a linkage in her question to the Department's assault statistics. I am advised that there is no nexus between the issuing of equipment and assaults on staff. I am further advised that there has not been a single incident where an officer's safety was compromised because they did not have all equipment. I am assured that assault rates over the past three years have remained relatively consistent when considering increased prisoner numbers, changes in the way that assault data is collected by the Department and improved reporting and recording systems.