NSW:NSW prison escapes triple in past year

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2011
NSW:NSW prison escapes triple in past year

SYDNEY, Dec 4 AAP - A convicted murderer was among 29 inmates who escaped from NSW
prisons in the year ending June 2011, a Greens MP says.

David Shoebridge says Corrective Services figures show breakouts from NSW jails had
tripled compared with the previous year.

Four of the escapes involved prisoners at the newly privatised maximum security prison
at Parklea, Mr Shoebridge said. One of them was a murderer who fled while being treated
at Sydney's Westmead Hospital.

"This is the first escape from a maximum security prison in NSW in the last decade
and the privatised operators must be under closer scrutiny," he said.

"These figures show that there has been an epidemic of prison escapes in the last 12
months, with the number of escapees tripling in that time."

Mr Shoebridge said Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham needed to answer for
the threefold jump. He urged the coalition to urgently review prison security at all public
and private facilities.

"While the Coalition has ruled out further prison privatisations in NSW for the moment,
there is a real concern that their search for 'efficiencies' will lead to staff reductions
and greater security concerns," he said.

Comment is being sought from Corrective Services NSW.

AAP nep/tab

KEYWORD: ESCAPEES

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