Disruptive detainees relocated to temporary facility

Media release
The Department of Justice has relocated 17 highly disruptive young males from Banksia Hill Detention Centre to a new temporary youth detention facility for the safety of themselves, other detainees and staff.
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Disruptive detainees relocated to temporary facility

The Gazettal of the facility was ordered under Section 13 of the Young Offenders Act 1994 and has allowed for a standalone unit at Casuarina Prison to be designated as a Youth Detention Centre and to operate as an extension of Banksia Hill.

Director General Dr Adam Tomison said the Department was left with no option than to relocate the detainees to a safer and more secure place because of the unprecedented destruction of living quarters and infrastructure and threats and attacks on staff.

“We have been managing emergency conditions at Banksia Hill since September last year, leading to a recent escalation in extreme behaviour and numbers of critical incidents, including detainees breaching their sleeping quarters,” Dr Tomison said.

“The number and severity of incidents over several months has seen an increase in lockdowns while staff respond to what has become a co-ordinated and unparalleled attack on the Centre’s infrastructure.”

The relocation of the detainees aged 14 – 17 years, will enable Banksia Hill to re-set and return to normal operations.

This will also allow for repairs and new works to be undertaken and living quarters made more secure and fit-for-purpose.

Damage caused to living quarters at Banksia Hill’    
Damage caused to living quarters at Banksia Hill

The temporary centre is in a separate building away from the rest of Casuarina Prison; detainees accommodated there will have no contact with adult prisoners. 

Support provided will include education, programs, cultural, medical and psychological services, all delivered onsite by experienced Banksia Hill and Youth Justice staff. The detainees will also have access to secure recreation facilities.

Detainees will be regularly assessed and will return to Banksia Hill as soon as practicable.

Corrective Services Commissioner Mike Reynolds said the facilities in the newly built unit would provide greater security and safety for the management of the detainees.

“The new setting should allow our staff to have more one-on-one engagement with these young people and help address their complex needs with all the same levels of services that are available at Banksia Hill,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the remaining detainees at Banksia Hill will be able to re-engage with rehabilitative, enrichment and education programs and recreation activities, while having increased out-of-cell hours not possible during the recent emergency.”

The upgrades to Banksia Hill will be expedited to enable the return of detainees from the temporary centre at the earliest opportunity.