A riot at the West Kimberley Regional Prison (WKRP) in Derby, Australia, has raised serious concerns regarding staffing levels and overcrowding within the state’s prison system. The incident occurred at approximately 22:20 on Saturday, leading to injuries among prison officers and damage to accommodation units, according to the West Australian Prison Officers’ Union.
The union has attributed the unrest to years of government inaction on staffing and overcrowding issues. Union Secretary Andy Smith stated that three officers were injured during the incident, which involved medium-security inmates breaching their accommodation units. Smith criticized the Department of Justice’s assertion that there were no injuries, calling it an “absolute insult” to the officers involved.
The Department of Justice reported that the riot was contained to the prison grounds and resolved by early Sunday morning thanks to a “rapid inter-agency response” from prison staff and local police. A spokesperson for the department emphasized that they are investigating the incident and noted that a small fire involving a shade sail was extinguished without causing significant damage.
Despite the department’s reassurances, Smith insisted that the incident reflects chronic staffing shortages that have plagued the West Australian prison system. He claimed that WKRP is “hundreds of officers short,” contributing to an environment where inmates feel increasingly frustrated and may lash out at staff. “It’s an absolute nightmare what is happening in our system,” Smith remarked, highlighting the urgent need for more personnel at the facility.
Overcrowding and Living Conditions
Concerns about overcrowding have also been voiced. Data released earlier this month indicated that WKRP housed 254 prisoners, significantly above its standard accommodation capacity of 223. These conditions have led to an alarming increase in tensions within the prison, as Smith noted, “Prisoners are crammed into cells that were not designed to take so many prisoners.”
In comparison, the average out-of-cell hours for inmates at WKRP were recorded at just 7.31 hours per day, while the state average stood at 9.22 hours. Such discrepancies in living conditions likely contribute to the heightened frustration among inmates, which can manifest in aggressive behaviour towards prison officers.
Following the disturbance, the Department of Justice deployed Special Operations Group officers to WKRP to assist with prisoner relocations and support the site during the recovery phase. A thorough damage assessment is underway, and security footage is being reviewed to determine if any criminal charges will be filed.
Government Response and Future Implications
While Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia refrained from directly addressing the union’s criticisms, he condemned the actions of the inmates involved in the riot. “Those involved in this disturbance should be condemned for squandering that privilege,” Papalia stated, referring to the facility’s purpose-designed, open-plan structure aimed at promoting rehabilitation. He commended the swift actions of prison staff and police in resolving the incident without further escalation.
Shadow Corrective Services Minister Adam Hort expressed grave concerns about the state of the prison system, describing the incident as indicative of mounting pressure on facilities. “West Kimberley was supposed to give local prisoners a chance at rehabilitation on country,” Hort stated. “Now it’s overcrowded, crumbling, and on the verge of collapse.”
As investigations continue, the implications of this incident extend beyond WKRP, reflecting deeper systemic issues within the West Australian prison system that require urgent attention from government officials. The call for increased staffing and improved conditions will likely echo as the fallout from this weekend’s events unfolds.
