By Brendan Foster
A damning report into Hakea prison has urged the Barnett government to build a new jail in Perth to deal with overcrowding in the facility and one that "meets the basic human rights" of those in custody.
The report released by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services on Thursday, found there were a number of issues relating to human rights for unconvicted prisoners.
A report into Hakea prison has demanded the WA government build a new jail to deal with overcrowding.
These included; a failure to ensure all prisoners had an adequate opportunity to call loved ones on being received into custody, to uphold prisoner rights to privacy and dignity, quality contact with children, ability to prepare one's legal defence, religious expression and unequal access to recreation facilities, especially for those in protection.
Acting inspector of custodial services Eamon Ryan found Hakea was "chronically full" and was having to pass inmates onto other facilities and despite cells being designed for just one prisoner, was having to house two.
"Hakea is a prison under enormous stress and pressure and we see little on the horizon to suggest that this situation is likely to change anytime soon," the report found.
"The total prison population is rising at an alarming rate across the entire estate (an increase of 66 per cent in total population over the past nine years) and the remand population is growing at almost double that rate (129 per cent in the same period)."
The report also found despite the risk of suicide amongst Aboriginal prisoners there was little peer group support for them and there were also concerns for the health and welfare of inmates.
"We were especially concerned at the continuing failure to reduce the high risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses (such as hepatitis C) through sharing of needles and other sharp instruments used for drug use and tattoos, something that was also raised in the 2012 inspection," the report found.
Mr Ryan put forth 29 recommendations to the Barnett government with the highest priority being the need for a new prison in the Perth metropolitan area.
In June last year, Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis said a new prison was on the cards.
"If the state population doubles in the next 10-15 years then so will the prison population. We'll need a new prison. It's not rocket science - it's common sense," he said.
The WA Prison Officers' Union has repeatedly called on the Barnett government to build a new prison to deal with overcrowding.
"The state government has repeatedly denied there is overcrowding in the state's prison system," WAPOU State Secretary John Welch said last year.
"We have been increasingly concerned about chronic overcrowding, especially since the state government decided to try and alleviate it by cramming two prisoners into cells designed for one, rather than building more cells."
Corrective Services Commissioner James McMahon said it supported 26 of the recommendations tabled by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.
Mr McMahon said however that some of the statements made in the report "were based on anecdotes and it is regrettable these have been reported on".
"A specific example is a reference that DCS did not take the OICS inspection seriously, which is contrary to its view," he said in a statement.
But he said the department agreed with Mr Ryan's concerns about prisoner's welfare.
"Operating correctional services is being made more complex by the growth in prisoner numbers, but we are confident that our optimisation plans, additional beds, a new facility and the dedication of our staff mean we can still deliver a safe and effective service," he said.