The prison watchdog has recommended the closure of sections within a notorious Australian correctional facility, citing “dilapidated” and “unsafe” conditions.
During an inspection of Sydney’s 116-year-old Long Bay Correctional Complex, Fiona Rafter, the New South Wales Inspector of Custodial Services, discovered troubling signs such as vermin infestations, moldy walls, and corroding beds.
Her recent report, based on evaluations conducted throughout 2023 and the previous year, was presented to state parliament this week, shedding light on the conditions faced by the 1,200 inmates housed there.
The document offers a bleak portrayal of life inside the Metropolitan Special Programs Centre, which has been in operation since the early 1900s.
Rafter underscored the hazardous and unhygienic state of the facility, noting the presence of potential hanging points throughout the complex.
She described the cells as “rundown and small,” with minimal access to natural light.
Their size meant they were unable to house wheelchairs and other mobility aids for prisoners with special needs.
Rafter was also scathing about the state of the showers in the centre, which had no privacy barriers and poor drainage.
“The damaged and broken tiles in 7-wing were particularly concerning as these showers are used by inmates at-risk of self-harm.”
The condition and age of the centre meant authorities could not provide a safe environment for prisoners who have mental illness, disability, age and frailty, she said.
Rafter also brought to attention the poor conditions in two “mothballed” parts of the prison.
The wings were temporarily closed but were supposed to be left in a state that enabled them to be reopened at short notice.
But the report found after only three months they were “filthy”, with fur and faeces pointing to stray cats living in them.
Inspectors also scrutinised Long Bay’s two hospital facilities.
They described one as “modern, secure, fit for purpose”, but the other housed remand prisoners and “bore no resemblance to a hospital”.
In September, the NSW Opposition called for Long Bay jail to be sold off to make room for thousands of new homes.
Under the plan, the site would be bulldozed to build up to 12,000 homes if the Coalition is elected in 2027.
NSW Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the government was considering the recommendations of the report and would issue a formal response at a later date.
“The government has invested $16 million into its anti-ligature program and is prioritising cells that house inmates most at risk,” he said.
“The government has also commissioned a Rapid Review into Unnatural Deaths in Custody to systemic issues and recommend reforms to improve safety and wellbeing in custody.
“We are actively working to reduce all preventable deaths in custody including by improving design and safety across correctional centres.”
