Jail riot squad team fear ‘getting into trouble’ working increasingly with juvenile detainees

Members of the crack prison anti-riot squad are worried about long periods spent at juvenile facilities, saying they are not trained to deal with kids and it is only a matter of time before they get “in trouble”. In recent years, the Special Operations Group has been increasingly used at Banksia Hill Detention Centre and the notorious Unit 18 within the adult Casuarina Prison, for dramatic incidents. These have included cell breakouts, fires, rioting and the self-harming death of two teenagers — in October last year and August 29 this year. A confidential report compiled in July by an independent, senior workplace investigator that was based on a survey of 49 mainly current members and leaked to The Sunday Times revealed “considerable discontent” within the squad. One of the most common reasons for the discontent was an increased youth custodial focus, the view being that it was “not what I signed up for”. “Youth custodial management receives significant external scrutiny . . . such scrutiny creates significant stress for interviewees, many of whom are worried they may inadvertently act inappropriately and face disciplinary charges,” the report said. “Interviewees reported they were often sent to BHYDC and Unit 18 for long periods; on these occasions they were assaulted on a daily basis, particularly being spat at by young offenders.” Rather than responding to emergency situations — as they were told they would be doing during the recruitment process — the small, highly-specialised team found much of their time was spent on non-emergency and, to them, non-essential activities. They now do patrols — sometimes for full 12-hour shifts — and seemingly “pointless” staff and prison searches because, according to several interviewees, management believe the officers needed to “look busy”. Most interviewees opposed their requirement to attend regularly in the absence of any incident, the report read. And their “constant presence” at not just youth detention facilities, but also adult jails, actually decreased the impact of their attendance being viewed as “ramping up” the response to incidents. They were now seen as a normal part of the staffing mix. “Any deterrent impact has been lost,” the report read. Three or four years ago, several SOG officers had described their role as “the best job ever”. But 31 per cent of the survey respondents indicated plans to leave or were actively seeking new employment. For four individuals, their decision to leave was based on feeling they were getting too old for the physically demanding work. The report also revealed frequent reference by respondents to a “purple circle”, which to a large part seemed to revolve around an interest in football. Those who were not part of it often dodged “sh.ty” tasks like being sent to Banksia Hill or Unit 18. But those who complained about problems ended up on a “sh.t list” and labelled “troublemakers”, many respondents said, referring to personal experience and observations. “As a result, meeting attendees are unwilling to speak up, even about important health and safety concerns,” the report said. Numerous interviewees mentioned bullying by management and an “autocratic, aggressive, dictatorial and punitive” style learnt from dealing with prisoners “to the effect ‘do as I say or else’.” Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said he acknowledged SOG officers played a critical role in the system and their work was high-risk by nature. “Their professionalism and high level of capability is relied upon across all custodial sites to keep everyone safe,” he said. “I’m committed to supporting the SOG and maintaining its elite standards.”