Hunt for prison runaway
A MAN jailed for possessing explosives and weapons offences remains on the run after escaping from the Townsville Correctional Centre Farm.
Geoffrey John Campbell, 39, was reported missing from the facility about 7.20am yesterday.
He was last seen about 4.30am and failed to turn up at a head count.
Campbell is serving nine months for “sell, possess and use of prohibited weapons and PORTS and public assets should be sold to pay down Queensland debt, says a key industry group, which also warns green and red tape is adding years to approvals and adding significantly to costs for private investors.
The state’s peak infrastructure body says Australia’s biggest companies cite the state’s political instability as a barrier to private sector investment.
Red and green tape is adding up to two years to major project approvals and the state runs the risk of losing out to Victoria, NSW, Western Australia and South Australia.
The findings are a wake- up call to the Queensland Government, with the Sunshine State said to be less attractive than others on investment pipeline visibility, investment certainty, ease of doing business and availability of stock.
The Infrastructure Association of Queensland recommends Queensland politicians not shut out future debate on electricity asset sales – a major factor in the defeat of the Newman Government in 2015. The August survey by the Phillips Group, was commissioned by IAQ in response to concerns about the level of private sector investment in Queensland identified in the Queensland Major Projects Pipeline report. explosives”, and was due for release in January next year.
Police conducted patrols, viewed CCTV footage and followed leads from members of the public but had not found Campbell last night.
Campbell is described as 175cm tall with a light build, fair complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair.
He has distinctive tattoos including a skull on his right shoulder, the letters ‘ K. A’ on his chest, a star on his right ankle, a dragon, a sword and Celtic markings on his left arm and the words ‘ maryjanetyler’, two birds and a tribal band on his right arm.
A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said prisoners who escaped faced additional criminal charges and were returned to a highsecurity facility for the remainder of their sentence.
“The Townsville Correctional Centre Farm is a low- security facility,” she said. “We are constantly reassessing the security of our centres, and regularly reassess prisoners’ security level. The Office of the Chief Inspector will overview the incident to identify any im- provements policy.”
Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Mark Ryan, said Campbell would face severe consequences for his actions.
“The principle underpinning a low- security prison farm is to aid prisoners with their rehabilitation and prepare them for re- entry to society,” he said. “When brought back into custody he will not be returned to the low- security environment. He will face more jail time.
“I have full confidence the in processes or Queensland Police Service will have this person back in custody promptly.”
Burdekin MP Dale Last said the community had a right to be concerned, given Campbell’s convictions and the likelihood of escaped prisoners committing further crimes while on the run.
“People are put in prison for a reason, and the expectation is that if someone in placed in prison that they are appropriately supervised,” he said.
“Corrective Services need to be conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.”
The Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said the centre had activated its community phone tree to inform residents of the escape as well as working with police to release information through the media.
“If people would like to be included in this service, or they would like to update their details, they can call Townsville Correctional Centre on 4430 5999,” the spokeswoman said.
If you have any information, contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.