The ACT Inspector of Custodial Services, Rebecca Minty, has made several recommendations to ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS), after a review of three assaults at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

The assaults occurred within the past 12 months and all were between prisoners.

“The three assaults that we reviewed all took place inside cells, with staff apparently unaware of the assaults for several minutes, until the injuries were brought to their attention,” said Rebecca Minty.

“Corrections Officers and Canberra Health Services staff exhibited professionalism in responding to the health needs of injured detained people as a priority,” said Ms Minty.

“Nonetheless, I am concerned about rising level of violence in the prison and recommend ACTCS take further action to respond to this.”

The report makes six findings and four recommendations, including that the Corrective Services enforce an existing rule that stopped prisoners entering other prisoner’s cells during the day.

“This is already a requirement in legislation, but is has not been enforced, and multiple people going into a cell without CCTV coverage is a risk point for assault,” Ms Minty said.

The review also found that crime scene and evidence preservation procedures had not been followed and recommended ACTCS examine ways to improve staff practices in these areas.