Deception in ACT prison riot detail takes its toll on staff

Former ACT Corrections commissioner Jon Peach has since been moved on from the most senior role at the prison, with 18 months of his contract left to run. He is now working in a low-profile position within the Justice and Community Safety Security and Emergency Services area.

In interviews conducted for his critical incident report into the November 10 riot, the independent Inspector of Correctional Services, Neil McAllister, said the media's reporting of the riot - based on statements and information provided directly by both Mr Peach and the Justice and Community Safety directorate media team - had been "deeply disappointing" to prison staff members.

According to a statement issued by the directorate, Mr Peach delivered a "clear apology in the morning brief to all staff who were involved", saying he thought they did a "very remarkable and professional job" and was never his intent to "minimise the incident".

However, some senior staff whom the inspector interviewed were adamant the apology did not even happen.

Based on post-event interviews, Mr McAllister's report found a number of staff were mentally and physically affected by the incident, by far the worst since the maximum security prison opened in 2008.

In a press conference the day after the November riot, Mr Peach told media there was only vegetable matter being pelted at staff and firefighters as he downplayed the seriousness of the incident.

But as the inspector's critical incident report disclosed, the reality was quite different.

Police and firefighters had been called to the prison, heavily-armed police tactical teams were on standby to enter and a drone was sent over the prison yard to give a clearer picture of what was occurring inside the prison as multiple fires were lit, makeshift weapons brandished at staff, prison equipment smashed and CCTV cameras broken.

The damages bill for the incident was later estimated at $5.7 million.

What Mr Peach failed to disclose in his media interview outside the JACS offices at 2 Constitution Avenue was that iron bars, frozen water bottles and metal tennis rackets had been thrown at the officers as they entered the prison yard to quell a fire there.

In his later, formal interview with the inspector, Mr Peach defended his statements to the media, saying he had been told on his arrival at the jail that fruit and vegetables had been thrown at staff and firefighters and "he was not aware until the following day that metal and other hard objects had also been thrown".

Mr Peach also said he was not aware of detainees' verbal threats to staff, but acknowledged they were armed and prepared to fight, and "staff were understandably in a difficult situation given their experience and may well have felt scared".

The former commissioner also acknowledged the complete incident, including the relocation of eight detainees - a task which the inspector said was not without risk to staff - didn't end until 3.30am, more than five hours later than he had told the media. The relocated inmates were identified as ringleaders of the riot and were moved to distance them from other inmates.

The lack of transparency over the November 10 riot at Canberra's prison has not been addressed by ACT Corrections Minister Mick Gentleman in subsequent statements, and responsibility for implementing the inspector's 14 recommendations has been passed on to former ACT Chief Police Officer Ray Johnson.

Low staff numbers, insufficient training and excessive overtime have been highlighted as consistent key issues at the jail.

Former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, who had championed the building of the jail and opened it in 2008, has labelled his prison legacy as "an appalling failure" and an "embarrassment".

He now believes his passion for the ACT to have its own prison, in retrospect, "was a mistake" because the facility did not have the appropriate level of facilities to keep prisoners engaged and occupied, which in turn has led to widespread boredom and drug use.

The recruitment process for a new Corrections commissioner was now under way.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: