BREAKING POINT

Pressure builds over escape

SERIOUS concerns have been raised about the “system pressures” that allowed career criminal Graham John Enniss to allegedly escape from the minimum security section of Risdon Prison using scaffolding and bedsheets.

And a damning report has revealed inmates preferred to be locked up alongside medium and maximum security criminals because the Ron Barwick facility in question was “cold and run down”.

Enniss was captured by police in bushland, pictured, off Risdon Vale’s Downhams Rd about 11.40am yesterday after leading police on a 27hour land and air search around the Risdon Vale and Geilston Bay areas.

A knife was among dozens of household items recovered by police in the area he was captured.

Since his escape on Monday morning — after accessing a roof and clearing a fence — union bosses and politicians have questioned how a prisoner could escape from what should be a well-secured custodial facility.

Police Association president Colin Riley said it “doesn’t seem right” Enniss was being held in minimum security given his rap sheet.

Community and Public Sector Union secretary Tom Lynch said Risdon’s classification system, which is “seeing prisoners having their classifications downgraded”, was a result of overcrowding.

Minister for Corrections Elise Archer said a full review was under way into the escape.

A KNIFE, two-minute noodles and a tin of sardines were among dozens of items found near where prison escapee Graham John Enniss was captured yesterday.

Enniss, who is serving an eight-year sentence for shooting at police in 2015, escaped Risdon Prison’s Ron Barwick minimum security facility about 8.30am on Monday after accessing a building’s roof and clearing a boundary fence.

He was joined by an accomplice who was unsuccessful in his escape.

It is understood the pair used bed sheets and scaffolding left unattended following painting done at the prison’s Ron Barwick minimum security facility.

Enniss remained at large until he was captured by police about 11.40am yesterday after extensive police land and air searches, which included members of the Special Operations Group.

Police said after Enniss was taken into custody, police searched bushland where he was located near Downhams Rd, Risdon Vale.

Over a dozen items were recovered, which police said may have been stolen from properties and vehicles in the area.

Among the items was a kitchen knife, a screwdriver and a pair of scissors.

Police said Enniss was unarmed at the time of his arrest.

Other items found were a blanket, cans of food, a sports watch, sneakers, a camouflage jacket and jeans.

During the hunt for Enniss, it is believed the fugitive discarded a bag before he was apprehended by police.

There was no report of injuries in his recapture.

Acting Police Commander Jason Elmer said Enniss did not resist arrest when captured by police.

He said there were about three or four occasions on Monday night where police moved to various locations in the search for Enniss following public tip-offs.

Acting Cdr Elmer said help from the public aided police in Enniss’ arrest.

“We particularly want to thank the public for their patience and understanding, particularly Geilston Bay and Risdon Vale residents,” he said.

“We obviously saturated those areas for a day and a bit to some inconvenience to the public.

“So we’re very appreciative of the assistance provided and clearly the assistance given has aided in his capture on Tuesday.”

Acting Cdr Elmer said police were confident Enniss stayed within the Risdon Vale/ Geilston Bay area throughout his time at large.

“We deployed a number of resources around the immediate area he was last seen, knowing he would probably head into a bush area and try to remain unseen for a period of time,” he said.

“We maintained those resources there overnight thinking at some stage he might attempt to leave the area.

“We were very confident with the resources we deployed that any attempt to leave would be covered.”

He said that police “didn’t have any information” relating to how Enniss escaped and said an investigation into his escape would explore those details.

“Our focus has been on recapturing him so the circumstances surrounding his escape will be a matter for Risdon Prison to review,” Acting Cdr Elmer said.

Anyone who thinks the recovered items are theirs should contact Bellerive CIB on 131 444.