Banksia Hill Detention Centre rioters moved to Banksia Hill boys moved to adult jail in West Australia: Casuarina jail
Originally published on dailymail.co.uk written by Michael Ramsey for AAP
Fears for 17 boys as young as 14 after they’re moved to an ADULT jail for destroying cells, assaulting guards and self-harming in juvenile detention
- 17 boys moved from juvenile detention to adult maximum security jail in WA
- Claims boys destroyed juvenile centre, escaped from cells and assaulted staff
- Relatives and advocates say boys treated inhumanely and at risk of self harm
- Authorities say boys will return to centre when it is repaired but gave no timeline
A group of 17 boys in Western Australia have been moved from youth detention to an adult prison with no timeline set for their return.
WA’s justice department confirmed the boys, aged as young as 14 and mostly Indigenous, had been relocated on Wednesday from Perth‘s Banksia Hill detention centre to a standalone facility at the nearby Casuarina maximum-security prison.
Officials say the detainees have been destroying property, escaping from their cells, assaulting staff and harming themselves.
They have promised the boys will be kept away from adult prisoners in safe and secure units while repair works are completed at Banksia Hill.
But advocates have called for urgent reform amid a spate of self-harm incidents and after an independent inspector found some boys were spending as little as one hour per day outside of their cells in violation of their human rights.
The grandmother of one of the transferees, whose time at Banksia was described by a judge as one of ‘prolonged, systematic dehumanisation and deprivation’, has said she fears the 15-year-old will take his life at the adult prison.
‘The number and severity of incidents over several months has seen an increase in lockdowns while staff respond to what has become a co-ordinated and unparalleled attack on the centre’s infrastructure.’
The department said detainees would be regularly assessed and return to Banksia Hill ‘as soon as practicable’.
It promised the boys would have access to education, secure recreation facilities and cultural, medical and psychological services.
About 600 past and present detainees have signed up for a planned class action led by Levitt Robinson Solicitors, alleging they suffered inhumane treatment, were excessively restrained and denied access to education.
The case is before the Australian Human Rights Commission, the first procedural step involved in filing a class action in the Federal Court.
First Nations-led advocacy group Change the Record said it was appalled by the decision of the WA Labor government to relocate the detainees.
‘Children do not belong in prison, they do not belong in maximum security adult prisons, and they should not be punished for the failures of adults to keep them safe,’ national director Sophie Trevitt said.
For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. People aged five to 25 can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Banksia Hill Detention Centre rioters moved to Banksia Hill boys moved to adult jail in West Australia: Casuarina jail
Originally published on dailymail.co.uk written by Michael Ramsey for AAP
Fears for 17 boys as young as 14 after they’re moved to an ADULT jail for destroying cells, assaulting guards and self-harming in juvenile detention
- 17 boys moved from juvenile detention to adult maximum security jail in WA
- Claims boys destroyed juvenile centre, escaped from cells and assaulted staff
- Relatives and advocates say boys treated inhumanely and at risk of self harm
- Authorities say boys will return to centre when it is repaired but gave no timeline
A group of 17 boys in Western Australia have been moved from youth detention to an adult prison with no timeline set for their return.
WA’s justice department confirmed the boys, aged as young as 14 and mostly Indigenous, had been relocated on Wednesday from Perth‘s Banksia Hill detention centre to a standalone facility at the nearby Casuarina maximum-security prison.
Officials say the detainees have been destroying property, escaping from their cells, assaulting staff and harming themselves.
They have promised the boys will be kept away from adult prisoners in safe and secure units while repair works are completed at Banksia Hill.
But advocates have called for urgent reform amid a spate of self-harm incidents and after an independent inspector found some boys were spending as little as one hour per day outside of their cells in violation of their human rights.
The grandmother of one of the transferees, whose time at Banksia was described by a judge as one of ‘prolonged, systematic dehumanisation and deprivation’, has said she fears the 15-year-old will take his life at the adult prison.
‘The number and severity of incidents over several months has seen an increase in lockdowns while staff respond to what has become a co-ordinated and unparalleled attack on the centre’s infrastructure.’
The department said detainees would be regularly assessed and return to Banksia Hill ‘as soon as practicable’.
It promised the boys would have access to education, secure recreation facilities and cultural, medical and psychological services.
About 600 past and present detainees have signed up for a planned class action led by Levitt Robinson Solicitors, alleging they suffered inhumane treatment, were excessively restrained and denied access to education.
The case is before the Australian Human Rights Commission, the first procedural step involved in filing a class action in the Federal Court.
First Nations-led advocacy group Change the Record said it was appalled by the decision of the WA Labor government to relocate the detainees.
‘Children do not belong in prison, they do not belong in maximum security adult prisons, and they should not be punished for the failures of adults to keep them safe,’ national director Sophie Trevitt said.
