Prison Administration

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Has the Department for Correctional Services taken over the prison cells of the Sturt Police Station for its prisoners?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:47): I would like to thank the honourable member for his important question. I can inform the council that on a not infrequent basis the Department for Correctional Services works closely with SAPOL regarding some of its police cell facilities. Often the police cells do constitute what is described within the Department for Correctional Services, or more generally, as surge beds.

We do this at a number of locations, I understand, and I am advised that police cells are currently utilised by the Department for Correctional Services at the Adelaide City Watch House and also in Holden Hill. I am more than happy to seek specific advice on the number of police cells that are actively being used at the Sturt Police Station, but again I am happy to disclose that the use of police cells by the Department for Correctional Services is not uncommon and is often used by way of surge bedding.