PRISONER ALERT
MANHUNT Search locks down suburbs
A SERIES of urgent reviews will be undertaken after yesterday’s daylight Risdon Prison escape amid revelations about the “outdated” and “substandard” facility.
Police were late last night still scouring an area of bushland around Geilston Bay, pictured, for the escapee. Corrections Minister Elise Archer vowed to investigate the matter fully.
AN URGENT review will be undertaken following the brazen daylight escape of a Risdon Prison inmate amid damning revelations about the “outdated” and “substandard” facility.
The man charged with overseeing prison conditions, custodial inspector Richard Connock, has raised significant concerns about the Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison that prisoner Graham John Enniss broke out of at 8.30am yesterday.
Enniss, 38 of Smithton, who was imprisoned for eight years in 2016 after firing a gun at police during a manhunt to find him, remained on the run last night.
Enniss slipped past prison officers — prompting a land and air search — by “accessing the roof of a building at the prison” and “clearing a boundary fence”.
He is described as 180cm tall, solid to muscular build and about 100kg. He is believed to be clean shaven and has the word “thug” tattooed on his neck.
He was being kept at the Ron Barwick minimum security facility.
Acting Southern District Commander Jason Elmer said Enniss’ escape was carried out alongside an accomplice, who prison officers were able to apprehend.
When asked how dangerous the escapee is, Commander Elmer said “we know Enniss is serving quite a substantial prison term for a number of instances on the North-West Coast a number of years ago”.
“Clearly we would encourage people to not approach him and if they do come into contact with him, to contact police immediately.”
Risdon Prison was in lockdown yesterday afternoon, preventing prisoners from attending scheduled court appearances.
It is understood Risdon Vale Primary School and a number of Eastern Shore schools were also in lockdown during the day.
Tasmania Police would not reveal how the roof could be accessed or how someone was able to clear the fence.
“We won’t be releasing the exact location for operational/security reasons,” a police spokeswoman said.
“There is no information to suggest Enniss was armed at the time of his escape.”
Minister for Corrections Elise Archer said she had met with her department and received a full briefing with an immediate investigation “under way”. “I have also requested an immediate review of the prisoner classification system,” she said. “Community safety is a key priority … and any escape is completely unacceptable.”
A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed the review was under way and that prior to yesterday’s incident the last escape from the Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison occurred in September 2015.
“No escape from custody is acceptable,” the spokesman said.
“Any improvements to systems and processes that emerge from this review will be considered.”
In 2015, Enniss was the subject of a manhunt involving multiple officers after he shot at police in the NorthWest while on the run from.
In 2010 he pleaded guilty to attempting to escape from custody and to two charges of assault for which he was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.
State Government minister Michael Ferguson yesterday said “lessons will be learned” from Enniss’ Risdon Prison escape.
It follows an incident at the prison on September 3 when two prisoners were found to have climbed onto a roof of the prison complex — an incident which a Justice Department spokesman said “was not an escape attempt”.
It came just days after another prisoner fled police custody at the Royal Hobart Hospital and remained at large for 12 days before he was found in a house where a gun was uncovered.
A 2017-18 inspection report into prison standards at the Risdon Prison complex by Mr Connock found the Ron Barwick minimum security facility was “outdated” and “substandard”.
“Tasmania Prison Services funding for infrastructure is an issue. The outdated, substandard facilities, in particular the Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison … were addressed in the 2016-17 report. The apparent lack of funding for maintenance and equipment replacement potentially contributes to lower staff morale and escalation of prisoner discontent,” the ombudsman report read.
Mr Connock said this year’s inspection reports have not yet been published but confirmed that issues with staffing shortages create pressures for staff resulting in increased overtime work “and a generally fatigued workforce”.
Labor corrections spokeswoman Ella Haddad said yesterday’s prison escape demonstrated the Government was “failing” to keep Tasmanians safe.
“The Liberals like to talk tough on crime but after another prisoner is on the run, the community is rightly asking why this keeps happening,” Ms Haddad said.
“Hardworking staff at our prisons are crying out for more support from the Government but it seems like the situation will only be getting worse.”
In a separate incident last night, police also began a search for a man who escaped from police custody in Burnie.
Brayden William Stanley, 26, of Irishtown, had been arrested for failing to appear in court.
He exited through the front door of the Burnie Police Station and stole a vehicle.
That vehicle has been located in Upper Burnie and he was believed to be on foot in that area.
He was wearing a navy blue T-shirt, black pants, has tattoos on his face, with short brown hair and of slim build.
He is not considered to be dangerous and there is no threat to the community. Police ask that anyone who sees him or knows where he is call triple-0.