Ministerial Statement

CAVAN TRAINING CENTRE

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:20): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement about the Cavan report received.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The report by the Department for Correctional Services on the escape by eight youths from the Cavan Training Centre on 27 February 2012 has now been released. Understandably, the escape and the particulars of the escape caused great concern. The public has a right to feel safe and have confidence that any child or young person who is detained in a custodial facility is detained securely.

The report contains detailed information on sensitive security issues, as well as details of the young people's actions leading up to and following the escape. The publication of sensitive security information must be managed carefully, and it would not be in the interest of the public for all the information contained in the report to be published. To do so would jeopardise ongoing security in the training centre and may also compromise the ability to secure a prosecution against those offenders who escaped.

Additionally, section 63C of the Young Offenders Act forbids the publication of information which may identify a young person or their alleged offence. As such, certain text has been extracted by the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion to enable the report to be published. The advice of both the Department for Correctional Services and the Crown Solicitor's Office has been sought to ensure that only the information that would compromise the security of the centre, breach the Young Offenders Act, or compromise the ability to secure a prosecution against a young offender has been removed from the report.

We have released the report to reassure the public that these security matters are being taken seriously and are being addressed. I have also asked for officials from the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion to brief the opposition spokesperson on this matter, and I understand that this has occurred today.

The investigation by the Department for Correctional Services has highlighted the need to change some operational practices and processes at the facility. Whilst a number of the changes were implemented immediately following the incident, the report has revealed scope for improvement in the development of consistent managerial practices, and security and safety processes, as well as leadership for operational staff. A newly appointed General Manager of Training Centres has also commenced. The new general manager has extensive experience in custodial environments and has commenced reviewing current processes across the centres.

The fact remains that this escape should not have occurred, and the public has a right to expect better. As such, I have requested the chief executive of my department to immediately undertake a formal departmental investigation of these matters. The report lists key actions and makes several key findings. I have requested that a task force be established with responsibility for the implementation of these findings and actions, and I can advise that this task force is already underway. This task force will be overseen by a senior executive of the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

I can also advise that directly following the escape, and whilst the investigation was underway, the department undertook a series of actions to improve security and safety within the Cavan Training Centre. The immediate security repairs were completed, and options for improvements to the facility are being considered. An ongoing security review committee has been established for the management of risk. The committee is tasked with the development of new processes for monitoring and use of intelligence information and maintaining safe and secure facilities. This committee will serve as the mechanism for overseeing the security operations of the centre.

I would like to thank the Department for Correctional Services for its comprehensive report, and I advise that the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion will act on all the findings of the report. I am mindful that the Cavan Training Centre operates under the Family and Community Services Act 1972 and that, as minister, I must carefully balance security and community safety with the objectives of assisting children and young people to overcome their personal or social problems and to enjoy rehabilitation at the facility.