3023. Hon Alison Xamon to the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to ligature minimisation in prisons, and I ask:
(a) how much funding was spent on ligature minimisation in 2019–20;
(b) at which prisons was ligature minimisation work undertaken in 2019–20;
(c) has the Department undertaken any work over the last five years to ascertain what further ligature minimisation work is required and to plan this work;
(d) if yes to (c), please table any relevant reports and or planning documents stemming from this work;
(e) if no to (c), why not;
(f) which prisons require ligature minimisation work;
(g) what is the estimated cost of this work; and
(h) when is it anticipated this work will be undertaken?
Hon Stephen Dawson replied:
(a) $430,401.
(b) Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Casuarina Prison.
(c) Yes.
(d) Planning documents requested in relation to ligature mitigation throughout the estate are sensitive. Disclosure of ligature risks in each facility may pose a risk to the safety and security of the prison estate.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) Investment to date has resulted in a significant increase in ligature minimised cells in the estate when compared to overall numbers of prisoners identified to be at risk of self-harm. The number of at risk prisoners at any prison changes regularly and that is why the data is monitored quarterly. In addition all new mainstream secure cells are constructed as minimum 3-point ligature minimised. New special purpose cells are constructed as fully ligature minimised.
We have identified the following six prisons where additional ligature minimisation would be of benefit and prioritised these sites for the next program of work.
(1) Bandyup Women’s Prison
(2) Casuarina Prison
(3) Greenough Regional Prison
(4) Hakea Prison
(5) Melaleuca Women’s Prison
(6) Roebourne Regional Prison
(g) Approved budget is $1.5m over the next three financial years. Estimated cost for a fully ligature minimised cell is between $30,000 and $50,000. We will be utilising approx. $500,000 per financial year to perform this work.
All new units built will be constructed as a minimum 3-point ligature minimised and all mental health and high risk units will be fully ligature minimised – the cost of this is external to the $1.5m and is included in the projects building costs.
(h) Program of Works due to commence November 2020.