Several juvenile detainees to be transferred from Longmore

26/8/95

Justice Minister Cheryl Edwardes today announced that several juvenile detainees would be transferred from Longmore Detention Centre immediately as a result of this week's escape.

Mrs Edwardes said the transfers were the result of an urgent review of security classifications yesterday by the Justice Ministry's Director General, David Grant.

She said the transfers to the Riverbank Detention Centre, which was better equipped to house high-risk detainees, would ensure that residents living near the Longmore complex had no reason to be fearful of a repeat escape.

"This upgrade follows a thorough review of Longmore's security systems by a team of experienced Ministry of Justice security experts," Mrs Edwardes said.

"These improvements will further enhance the changes progressively introduced since the Ministry took over the facilities in 1993."

Mrs Edwardes said the State Government acted swiftly to start planning for a new juvenile detention centre in 1993, as soon as it recognised the inadequacies of the ageing facilities at the existing detention centres.

The new state-of the-art detention centre to be built at Canning Vale at a total cost of $31 million, was expected to open in mid-1977.

The lead time required to plan, design and construct the centre was being fast-tracked and that the earthworks had begun earlier this month.

Mrs Edwardes said construction was expected to start later next month.

When completed, the centre would hold up to 120 detainees and would feature the most up-to-date technology available.

The Minister said a host of improvements had already been made to the existing detention facilities at Longmore and Riverbank since the Court Government took office.

She said more than $125,000 had been spent improving security at the ageing centres, which had been neglected during the previous Government's management of them.

Improvements at Longmore included:

+          installation of razor ribbon at the rear of the facility;

+          conversion of four cells to high-security status;

+          installation of security cameras and alarms; and -

+          improvements to security grilles and doors.

Improvements at Riverbank included:

+          installation of security cameras;

+          installation of razor ribbon to back perimeter wall;

+          fitting of metal window grills and amplimesh screens; and -

+          removal of wall-mounted cameras and brackets

Mrs Edwardes said the State Government had spent a further $313,000 on security improvements at the Rangeview remand centre before it was opened in Murdoch last year.

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777