The ACT Custodial Inspector has found gaps in care, communication and culturally informed decision making contributed to a detained Aboriginal woman being sprayed with pepper spray in response to her self-harming at the Alexander Maconchie Centre.

On the day of the incident, the woman’s request to attend an Aboriginal art program was refused and soon after she attempted to harm herself.

Correctional officers responded promptly but could not convince her to stop her self-harming, so they deployed pepper spray, and restrained her.

Overall, the review made 11 findings and 4 recommendations, which focus on improving therapeutic responses to self-harm, ensuring health and corrections staff have the right information and work together, and ensuring cultural support is available at the right time and in the right way.

The review found that the use of pepper spray in this situation posed unnecessary physical and mental harm and recommended the jail ban the use of pepper spray in these circumstances.