Tools removed from WA prisons after escape

Ten men who broke out of a WA jail during a riot have been charged with escaping from custody, while the state government has announced an independent review.

Power tools have been removed from all West Australian prisons following a mass break-out during a riot, while more guards have been put on duty to reduce the heightened risk of copycats.

Ten men, aged between 18 and 35, who used an angle grinder and ladder to break out of Greenough Regional Prison on Tuesday, have been charged with escaping from custody.

A 22-year-old woman has also been charged with aiding an escapee.

Corrective Services Minister Fran Logan was overseas at the time of the riot and rushed back to WA, apologising on Friday for the "disgraceful incident".

"(It) is an example of mindless violence and wanton destruction caused by inmates and it's an absolute outrage," he told reporters.

Corrective Services Commissioner Tony Hassell, who admitted the incident was embarrassing, has ordered the removal of all tools from within prisons.

Opposition corrective services spokesman Zak Kirkup said it was "absolutely unacceptable" that tools were ever kept within perimeter fences.

Mr Logan conceded there was a heightened risk of copycat behaviour at other prisons, so maximum staffing was required even if it meant considerable overtime, which Mr Hassell described as a sensible precaution.

Former Victorian Corrections Commissioner Jan Shuard will independently review prisoner behaviour, daily operations, infrastructure, prison procedures, security and the effectiveness of the response to the riot.

A separate report ordered in January, which deals with staff numbers at all WA prisons, was completed two weeks ago but is yet to be signed off by the union, commissioner and minister.

That report details how many staff are required for the medium-security prison, and will reveal whether the facility is understaffed.

Mr Logan said Labor had inherited legacy issues in the WA prison system, pointing to the previous government's failure to build infrastructure to go with additional beds.

"We inherited a prison system in crisis."

The minister said his government was spending $130 million on 884 additional beds, and there would also be hundreds of extra prison officers over the next few years.

Mr Kirkup said the minister could not continue to blame the previous government.

Anarchy erupted at the jail after officers went to extinguish a fire that was started as a diversion.

Molotov cocktails were thrown during the rampage and male prisoners broke into the female unit.

Three guards were pepper sprayed and some prisoners suffered smoke inhalation.

Up to 80 prisoners were involved in the riot and 38 cells remain uninhabitable.

The damage bill is expected to be millions of dollars.


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Source: AAP


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