Sent: Friday, 26 September 2014 3:00 PM
To: Loni Cooper
Subject: RE: Questions from Media Watch
Hi Loni,
As discussed, please find the responses to your enquiry below, attributable to “a Corrective Services
NSW spokesperson.”
1. Where in the prison did the incident occur and what was the cause?
The incident occurred in yards 6 and 7 of Goulburn Correctional Complex’s main Centre, not
the High Risk Management Correctional Centre (Supermax). Inmate unrest began after staff
informed them that a good behaviour privilege – a barbecue – was being withdrawn due to
earlier verbal abuse of correctional staff. Only yard six inmates damaged property.
2. Did the incident involve mainly Aboriginal prisoners?
Yes.
3. Were any of those prisoners Muslim?
A minority of the Aboriginal inmates who were in yard 6 identify as Muslim.
4. Did any of those prisoners threaten to behead officers as reported in the Daily
Telegraph on 23 September?
Officers reported hearing one Aboriginal inmate in yard 6 where the disturbance occurred
stating that.
5. How many prisoners had to be subdued with tear gas? Were these all indigenous
prisoners from Yard 6 or were some Pacific Islanders/bikie gang members from Yard
7?
Yard 6 had 32 inmates in it and yard 7 had 26. Both yards had chemical munitions
discharged into them.
6. Seven inmates are reported to have refused to go back to their cells, and four of
these are reported to have been injured. Were any of these hard core/extremist
Muslims? If so, how many?
Twelve inmates in all have been segregated and the investigation is ongoing to identify
more. Three of them identify as being Muslim.
7. Did Middle Eastern inmates from Yard 13 “encourage the riots” as reported in the
Daily Telegraph on 23 September?
There is no indication that Middle Eastern inmates from yard 13 incited or instigated the
disturbance, however one Middle Eastern inmate was heard calling out in support when the
disturbance was already under way.
8. How many Muslim inmates are there in the main section of Goulburn prison?
About 10 per cent of the inmates at Goulburn Correctional Centre mainstream are Muslim.
This is consistent with the Muslim inmate population across the state.
9. Were any of the maximum security prisoners shouting ‘Allah Akbar’ or involved in
any other way?
An officer reported a separate incident of unidentified Middle Eastern inmates yelling “Allah
Akbar” from their cells well after the disturbance was over. It appeared that they were yelling
these words as Aboriginal inmates were being escorted to their cells.
No Supermax inmates were involved in the disturbance as it took place in the mainstream
prisoners section of Goulburn Correctional Centre. Supermax is its own prison on the
Goulburn complex.
10. Was the incident visible from the Supermax section?
No. Supermax inmates are unable to see or hear any of the mainstream prison or its
inmates.
11. How long did it take to get the incident under control?
Officers negotiated with yard 6 inmate representatives over inmates’ dissatisfaction with
barbecue cancellation and the requirement that they return to cells for almost two hours.
The actual violent disturbance lasted a few minutes before chemical munitions were
deployed, with inmates quickly complying and being led to the cells by officers.
12. Were prison officers who were deployed to deal with this incident in riot gear?
Yes, including gas masks, helmets and shields as is procedure.
13. Can you clarify what “chemical munitions” were put to use in quelling the
prisoners on Saturday? Is it tear gas or Mace, or both?
Tear gas.
14. Have prayer meetings in Goulburn prison been cancelled?
Muslim inmates at Goulburn Correctional Centre continue to be free to pray.
There has been no withdrawal of group prayer meetings as Goulburn Correctional Centre
has not allowed them and at this stage does not plan to allow them.
This is not for religious reasons but due to the logistical impossibility of hosting large groups
of maximum-security inmates that are restricted from associating in prison, including
protection prisoners or different gang members.
This can also apply to other faiths, depending on the mix of prisoners and their nonassociation orders.
15. Was Saturday’s incident related to the cancellation of prayer meetings?
No. One prayer meeting had been cancelled at a different prison for prison management
reasons.
16. How many prayer meetings have been cancelled across the prison network? Have
they been cancelled because of concerns that inmates might be plotting terrorist
acts?
Prayer meetings are cancelled from time to time due to operational and centre security
reasons only.
Corrective Services NSW has no indication of any prayer meeting being cancelled due to
plotting of terrorist acts or concerns about plotting of terrorist acts.
17. When high-risk prisoners are taken to court is anyone armed with rocket
launchers?
No.
18. Is it accurate to describe Saturday’s incident as a “full scale riot along religious
lines” as reported in the Daily Telegraph on 22 September?
No. It was a significant disturbance that rarely occurs in prisons, however it lasted only a few
minutes, the physical disturbance was contained to one yard, and damage and injuries were
minor. There were no religious lines or religious causes.
19. Is it accurate to describe Saturday’s incident as a “riot” or the “worst riot since
2002”?
No.
20. Finally, what is your opinion of the Daily Telegraph’s coverage of the incident at
Goulburn Prison on Saturday?
Corrective Services NSW offers no comment on individual media outlets’ coverage.
However from a broader media perspective, Corrective Services has commented extensively
and in detail to media about this incident. This has included confirmation that the
disturbance:
- was related to a barbecue cancellation and nothing more
- was not inspired by religious or national security matters
- had no connection to Supermax or its inmates, and
- was quickly and efficiently managed by local prison staff and management
CORRECTIVE SERVICES NSW |
Level 6 East | Henry Deane Building | 20 Lee Street | SYDNEY | NSW | 2000 |
GPO Box 31 | SYDNEY | NSW | 2001