GOULBURN Mulwaree Mayor Geoff Kettle has demanded action following the second escape from the Goulburn Correctional Centre in as many months.
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At the time of print, the 25-year-old minimum security inmate was still at large.
Just after 5pm, however, the man was arrested in a suburb of Wollongong, bringing to an end a 32-hour manhunt. (More detail here)
Acting Hume Local Area Command crime manager Detective Rod Grant yesterday confirmed the inmate had been working in an area housing demountable classrooms, near the jail, just before his escape at about 10am Wednesday.
He could not say how many officers were guarding the prison work party at the time. Police are unsure whether the man scaled a fence or escaped underneath.
The escape has again highlighted security risks at the prison. On August 18, maximum security inmate Stephen Jamieson escaped using a hacksaw blade, a pillow, bed sheets and a mop handle.
At the time, Prison Officers Vocational Branch State Executive Chair Steve McMahon said prison resources were “strained”.
“I think what we’ve seen happen is one of the indicators the system is at a breaking strain,” he said.
Cr Kettle on Wednesday said the security of Goulburn Jail would be “top of the agenda” during a scheduled meeting with Premier Mike Baird this month.
“I have spoken with the Deputy Commissioner of Corrective Services expressing my concern that this has happened twice in two months, and that I want to receive a full briefing on the back of the independent security review,” he said.
“The Goulburn community has lived with the maximum security jail for years and it’s not the norm. Obviously there is a problem at the jail that will need to be addressed.
“I would hope on behalf of the Goulburn Mulwaree community that Correctional Services address this.”
Goulburn MP Pru Goward spoke with Mr Baird yesterday about future upgrades to the Goulburn Correctional Facility (see separate story).
Wednesday’s escape drew concern from residents, including Goulburn Mulwaree Councillor Robin Saville.
“This is Mr Baird’s responsibility; it is his jail full of his state’s criminals and he needs to step up...
The Premier needs to give this city his full attention and if it is staff shortages at the bottom of this then that needs to be fixed. Or are escapes to become a regular feature of life in Goulburn?” Cr Saville asked.
“This is an intolerable situation for the people of Goulburn and must not happen again.”
NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley on Wednesday said the prison system was “on its knees”.
“Corrective Services Minister David Elliott is singlehandedly solving the overcrowding crisis in NSW prisons by letting inmates stroll out the front gate,” he said. Speaking on radio yesterday, Mr Elliott said the escape was “completely unacceptable”.
He said when Wiles was recaptured, he would face another two years in prison for escaping custody, and a further two years for having contraband - a mobile phone - in prison.
The Post made multiple calls to Corrective Services Minister David Elliott’s office but did not receive comment by the time of print.