Drug trade rife in jails

Union voices fears over safety

THE SAFETY of Townsville’s prisons is being compromised by an underground drug trade, according to the union representing Queensland Corrective Services staff.

Together Union Townsville Correctional Complex president Barry Jacobsen said the workplace standards in Townsville’s correctional facilities weren’t up to scratch with drugs freely available.

“It’s a huge issue and there’s actually a trade that’s been set up in a jail, inside it creates a lot of tension and is a big cost to the community,” he said.

Data released to the Bulletin shows from 2018 up to March this year, there were 10 incidents where substances had been located within a correctional facility. A Queensland Corrective Services spokesman said the quantity of drugs moving within facilities was unknown.

In the previous financial year, there were 13 drug incidents recorded.

From 2018 to March this year, 10 officers were seriously assaulted, with another 13 attacked. In the 2016-17 financial year there 16 serious assaults requiring medical treatment, and 31 that didn’t result in medical attention.

Mr Jacobsen said staff were often left mentally scarred from the attacks.

“Everybody is different, but it doesn’t matter when they were assaulted, we still have people in alternative duties years after the attack and they’re still affected by it,” he said.

“While an officer is able to access EAP to assist with any issues, it’s not enough to help people through the process. There are people who go back into a unit with prisoners and suddenly those fears come back, sometimes there’s physical scars but it’s mainly mental scars that occur.”

The Queensland Corrective Services spokesman said the department took a zero tolerance approach to contraband in prisons and was committed to the safety of its staff and prisoners.

“Our officers are extremely vigilant for any signs of contraband and we deploy a range of strategies to detect and seize contraband including searches, perimeter response vehicles and extremely effective passive alert drug detection dogs,” he said.

“QCS works closely with Queensland Police Service to identify and charge those who would compromise the safety and security of centres by providing contraband items.”