Hunter police overstretched and overworked

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter's police are already overstretched and overworked with a rapidly growing population in Maitland and the Lower Hunter, but the mass security expansion of the Cessnock Gaol will make matters worse according to a Hunter MP.

NSW Police Association figures say NSW and the Hunter region have the lowest police to population ratio across any Australian state.

The figures also revealed in rural areas such as some places in the Hunter, are doing the same job as those in Newcastle, but with about 80 less officers.

Cessnock MP Clayton Barr says in doubling the size of the gaol, the police presence needs to be doubled as well.

"If our police officers are up there taking care of other crimes in other areas then what they are unable to do is look after our local community and that's not a criticism of the police themselves, these guys, our local cops work harder than any other cops across the state and that's a statistical fact. But they need to have the human resources and the numbers of police required."

Police say they're regularly being called to investigations and new crimes within the Cessnock facility rather than dealing with community matters.

"The size of the Cessnock gaol is bigger than any of the government reports have ever considered, the increase of 1,000 prisoners is bigger than any other increase across the state so the impact on Cessnock is going to be felt greater than it has ever been felt anywhere in NSW," said MP Clayton Barr.

He adds police numbers are just one of the issues which must be addressed with the jail expansion. 

"The impact on Cessnock is going to be felt greater than it has ever been felt anywhere in NSW before and yet this government refuses to acknowledge that there are any needs for any extra support in Cessnock. Not just police, but social services, road infrastructure, health infrastructure, the list goes on and on and on."

Brawl at Cessnock Gaol

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Police and corrective services are investigating a brawl at Cessnock Gaol which has left one inmate in hospital.

The 32-year-old man was standing near the minimum security section when he was allegedly attacked by several prisoners yesterday afternoon.

He's been treated at the John Hunter Hospital for facial and head injuries which required stitches.

Lindsay Street will Remain the Only Entrance to Cessnock Gaol

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

Cessnock Council has described themselves as “bitterly disappointed” after the state government decided not to open any additional entrances to the Cessnock gaol.

Inside Cessnock gaol's accommodation area [Image: Cessnock Advertiser].

It comes after the government announced the gaol would expand by one thousand new beds, bringing in new inmates and staff.

The government-conducted Review of Environment Factors concluded only one entrance was required.

Council has argued the increased traffic will drastically increase general wear-and-tear of local roads, while also increasing congestion.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said ratepayers shouldn't

Bob Pynsent

have to foot the bill for the road repairs.

“It’s just not good enough, we got absolutely nothing out of the whole proposal,” he said.

“If it was a private developer they would have to make contributions to the road network.

“But because it’s the state government, they don’t put anything in at all and we as the ratepayers are covering those costs to road maintenance.  It’s just unfair.”

Currently, the only entrance to the gaol is via Lindsay Street, with the government report concluding the street was capable of handling increased traffic.

However, Cr Pynsent says the one road entry will affect more than just Lindsay Street.

“This is adding to the traffic, not just in Lindsay Street, but the traffic right through central Cessnock,” he said.

“It’ll effect Mountview Road, Wollombi Road, we already have traffic congestion at school times and this increase will only add to that.

“I’m disgusted that the REF does not refer to another entry point.”

Despite the disappointment, Council is still willing to work with the government to address the concerns of residents.

“[I’m] hoping to speak to the Minister,” said Cr Pynsent.

“He gave me a commitment on Monday [October 31, 2016] that he would listen to our concerns.”

Teachers Losing Out in Cessnock Jail Expansion Plans

BY BRIDGET GUNN

Multiple teachers are set to lose their jobs in the controversial 1,000 bed expansion of Cessnock jail.

These proposed changes to the numbers of teachers employed at the jail have raised serious concerns, as the proposed teaching staff will be untrained and not fully qualified.

The government has made plans to cut the 9.5 full time teaching positions back to 2 positions as part of an employment outsourcing scheme.

Phillip Chadwick from the NSW Teachers Federation says these changes will have serious long term effects, as inmates won't learn skills necessary to reintegrate into society.

"One third of the people who might find themselves in prison have very poor language, literacy and numeracy skills, and it is vital that they have the right people in front of them giving them those skills so that when they do leave prison they can reintegrate and make their way back into society," says Chadwick.

"One of the key things that the education systems currently do is they interrupt that cycle of long term generational crime, and so it is vital to have highly trained teachers in place to break that chain."

"Under the new system, the people doing the education in our prisons won't have a proper teaching qualification, it will be a Certificate Four qualification and this is a real disaster for rehabilitation in our correctives services."

An immediate action training drill at Cessnock Jail
Source: The Newcastle Herald

Expansions at Cessnock Jail Positive for Cessnock Community

BY BRIDGET GUNN

A proposed expansion of Cessnock jail will see the facility double in occupancy to 1800 inmates.

The expansion will provide beds for an additional 1000 inmates, and should create jobs for more than 800 workers, including about 450 construction workers and 430 permanent correctional staff.

Director of Custodial Corrections Glen Scholes says Corrective Services is keen to pursue the project that could prove very beneficial to the Cessnock community.

"The existing jail has been there for around about 40 years so far, and the jail itself has a terrific relationship with the local community" says Scholes.

"I think it's a great opportunity for us to further partner with the Cessnock community, and we look forward to doing that effectively as we have done over many years."

Prison Officers Vocational Branch Chairman Steve McMahon says the expansion will be beneficial for the community of Cessnock.

"The community may have some concerns around the safety aspects of having such a large concentration of prisoners, but we can assure the community that we operate at the top end of all prisons in the world, and our facilities are very secure."

Cessnock jail
Source: The Newcastle Herald

Two Inmates Badly Burned in Cessnock Gaol Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

 Two inmates remain in a critical condition and at least one prison guard has been treated for burns after a fire broke out at Cessnock Gaol last night.

The blaze started in a maximum security cell just after 8pm - the two inmates aged 21 and 24 were flown to the Burns Unit at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Ambulance Rescue Helicopter.

Police say 12 prison officers and staff needed treatment including for smoke inhalation.

Corrective Services Commissioner, Peter Severin says it's believed the fire started when bed linen and clothing were set alight.

One of the inmates is loaded into the Ambulance Rescue helicopter

Fire crews leave Cessnock Gaol after extinguishing the fire Photos courtesy Fairfax media.