NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham was yesterday backtracking in the wake of insider allegations of a security breach cover-up at the Wellington jail.
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Mr Woodham denied there had been a cover-up over a door being left unlocked at a minimum security unit at the Wellington Correctional Centre and staff claims that prisoners could easily escape over the jail’s perimeter.
Mr Woodham’s vote of confidence in the jail’s management came after two correctional centre staff members told the Daily Liberal the jail was surrounded by a four-foot high pool fence and not a six-metre high fence with razor wire and roll drums, as a department spokeswoman said.
A third employee told the Daily Liberal late last year that a senior staff member was not punished for leaving a minimum security unit at the prison unlocked, with the potential for 21 inmates to walk free.
Mr Woodham begged to differ yesterday and clarified an earlier response by a department spokeswoman.
A senior staff member had been disciplined over the security breach at the Honour Unit, which housed offenders of the lowest minimum security classification, outside the prison’s main perimeter fences.
Wellington Correctional Centre general manager Clarrie Dries had taken immediate action, an investigation was launched and the responsible officer was reprimanded and cautioned, the officer’s personal file noted, Mr Woodham said.
“This was the most appropriate action in the circumstances,” he said.
Mr Woodham said offenders at the Honour Unit were employed on ground maintenance outside the prison.
“They are not considered a security risk,” he said.
Mr Woodham said there had been a misunderstanding between Corrective Services NSW staff in Sydney and staff at Wellington about exactly where the door had been left unlocked on October 23.
“There was no attempt to mislead anyone over where the unit is situated within the centre,” Mr Woodham said.
“Claims of a cover up are simply not true.
“There should be no questions levelled at the integrity of any of my staff in this matter.”
faye.wheeler@ruralpress.com