THE safety of staff and inmates at Bathurst Correctional Centre will be compromised under planned new staffing levels, says the union that represents local prison officers.
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And a new benchmarking formula to be applied by Corrective Services NSW will also mean staff cuts at Lithgow, Kirkconnell and Oberon jails at a time when the state’s inmate population is booming.
A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW said benchmarking was aimed at “improving our standards, accountability and the efficiency of our operations” but Nicole Jess, chair of the prison officers vocational branch of the Public Service Association, called it “razor gang cost-cutting”.
Ms Jess said “incidents” at Bathurst Correctional Centre were already at a record high and any decrease in staffing numbers would only make the jail more dangerous.
“We had an officer leave Bathurst [jail] by ambulance on Thursday after being injured,” she said.
“There was an incident at morning muster where inmates started fighting and officers had to intervene.
“It took several officers to calm the situation down and get back control and one officer was taken to hospital for treatment of a head injury.
“Our prisons are at maximum capacity and it has only been through the sheer professional work of our members that there have not been more staff injured.”
Figures provided to the Western Advocate claim 21 staff will be lost at Bathurst Correctional Centre, 13 at Lithgow, four at Oberon and two at Kirkconnell.
They include assistant superintendents, senior corrections officers, corrections officers and overseers.
“This is a slap in the face for prison staff after we have worked with the department to accommodate over-crowding across the state as a result of their mismanagement,” Ms Jess said.
The spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW would not confirm the number of jobs to go at each of the jails, instead seeking to focus attention on the jobs that will be created at Bathurst when a new $110 million maximum security wing is built.
“Benchmarking will result in staffing changes at each of the centres, however about 68 new jobs will be created,” the spokesperson said.
“New positions will be created by the $110 million, major expansion at Bathurst and an increase in reducing reoffending programs at all four centres.
“The rank and type of job may change, with many new jobs at the level of correctional officer.
“For staff who may be affected by benchmarking … there will be new positions created as well as currently vacant roles that provide opportunities to retain employment.”
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