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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-03 Daily Xml
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PRISONS, CONTRABAND

Mr KENYON (Newland) (14:34): Will the Minister for Correctional Services provide the house with details about the recent seizure of contraband in prisons?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Gambling, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:34): Yes, and I thank the member for this very important question. Last month, four intelligence-led operations resulted in contraband, such as drugs, drug taking equipment and mobile phones, being detected and removed from our state prisons—some from members of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Police and correctional officers are working together to keep our prisons safe for both inmates and prison staff. In May there were very strong results, which show that our approach is paying dividends. At Mobilong Prison, intelligence indicated that prisoners had concealed contraband within a stovetop range hood in a lower security area. A search was conducted, and officers uncovered one mobile phone, four SIM cards, two tattoo guns, six mini-screwdrivers, three mobile phone chargers and a quantity of cannabis. Further searches of other range hoods at Mobilong Prison that day also uncovered another mobile phone, two mobile phone chargers, a SIM card and a syringe.

Two prisoners were moved to the maximum security Yatala Labour Prison as a result of this operation. Also in May, at Cadell Training Centre, an operation was conducted targeting contraband brought in by visitors to the prison. Some 29 visitors and their vehicles were searched, and 18 staff from the Police Corrections Unit, Cadell Training Centre, the Department for Correctional Services Intelligence and Investigations Unit, Operation Security (using two drug detection dogs) and Riverland police ran the day-long operation.

Eight people had their visits cancelled. One visitor was charged in connection with cannabis and drug equipment found hidden in a 2.5 litre drink container. This person has been banned from visiting any prison for three months. Another person was also banned from visiting prisons for three months in connection with this matter. Furthermore, six people were found with 12 syringes in their vehicles. The syringes were confiscated, and these people have been banned from visiting the prison.

In a separate operation at Mobilong Prison last month, an immature cannabis plant and a package containing drugs were found after electronic surveillance detected a breach at the outer boundary fence. This is evidence of how recently installed motion detection cameras are helping us in the battle against contraband. Also last month, a body search of a prisoner, who is a member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, uncovered several small packages and a capsule of white powder. The substance is now being tested and is suspected of being amphetamine. The prisoner is on remand for serious violence-related offences and will be charged with introducing a prohibited substance into a prison. Investigations of these matters are continuing.

Once again, this arrest was made possible by intelligence gathered by Correctional Services officers and the department's Intelligence and Investigations Unit. Because of the good work of police officers and tough new laws introduced by the Rann government, more and more members of criminal motorcycle gangs are being taken off the streets and put behind bars, but they do not automatically reform, and some try to continue criminal activity on the inside. Catching this Rebels member and confiscating the several packages of suspected illicit drugs he had shows the commitment of correctional officers in the fight against organised crime, and I commend them for that.

Our correctional officers are doing a fantastic job of making sure prisoners and their associates are stopped from introducing contraband into our prisons. The Rann government is sending a clear message to outlaw motorcycle gangs. That message is: the South Australian government runs our prisons, not them. People caught bringing contraband into our prisons face being charged and banned from visiting their loved ones in prison. Prisoners caught with contraband face investigation, relocation to a higher security facility and being charged.

Prisons, of course, are full of criminals, and the walls and razor wire do not deter the most committed crooks from trying to break the law from within prisons. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to keep prisoners safe from each other and themselves, to keep prison workers safe and ultimately to send prisoners out into the world as better people than they were when they came into prison. Our clear message to anyone who is thinking about smuggling contraband into a prison is, 'Don't. You will be caught, and you face tough penalties, including a criminal charge, bans on visits and fines. If you are a friend or family member of a prisoner, the fastest way to get yourself into gaol is to try to smuggle in drugs, weapons or other contraband.'

Again, I applaud prison officers and Police Corrections for their great work last month in detecting and confiscating contraband from our state prisons. Prison guards and correctional officers have very difficult jobs. Their diligence and commitment to their profession are helping to keep our prisons and communities safe. Keeping contraband out of South Australia's prisons is a long and relentless fight, but the strong results in May show that we are landing some hard punches. With talented corrections staff and improvements in technology we will continue to do even more.

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