Bid to cool jail tensions

AN external consultant will be hired to review the staffing issues in Tasmania’s prison system that have been blamed for recent jailhouse unrest.

The news comes after a minor incident in which Risdon prison inmates refused to return to their cells for the second time in a month.

Unlike last month’s protest over conditions, in which tear gas was fired on inmates, yesterday’s standoff was shortlived.

“A small number of prisoners in the medium security facility at the Risdon Prison Complex refused to return to their cell after lunch,” a Justice Department spokeswoman said.

“The inmates were spoken to by correctional officers, and within minutes returned to their cells.” Though brief, the incident comes amid simmering tensions at the prison due to overcrowding, frequent lockdowns, understaffing and the phasing out of nicotine patches.

Earlier this month a prisoner escorted by too few guards allegedly assaulted a doctor at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

And a staff shortage prompted a prison lockdown which caused many inmates to miss their Father’s Day phone calls.

Prisoners Legal Service chairman Greg Barns believes unrest at the prison will continue.

“These sorts of problems are going to continue and in my view they will become larger, so long as conditions continue to deteriorate,” he said

The department has confirmed it will hire a consultant to review rostering and shift arrangements at the Tasmania Prison Service.

“The TPS has 18 new correctional officer recruits commencing within a fortnight and is continuing to recruit and train new officers throughout the rest of this year,” the spokeswoman said.

“In this context, it is timely as part of normal operational business to ensure rostering and shift arrangements are working as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

Community and Public Sector Union boss Tom Lynch said it appeared the review was aiming to boost staff capacity.

“They won’t get any push back from us if they do that sensibly. What we won’t allow is for changes to be made that shift greater risks to officers … particularly at a time that pressures in the prison are high,” he said.