OICS review of an escape of a detainee from a secure escort on 9 July 2021

On 9 July 2021, an Alexander Maconochie Centre escort vehicle carrying a detainee and three Corrections Officers was rammed repeatedly by a Jeep, eventually forcing the heavily damaged escort vehicle off the road in Griffith where the detainee fled in the Jeep.

The ACT Inspector of Correctional Services, Neil McAllister, presented the critical incident review of the escape for tabling in the ACT Legislative Assembly today.  The review makes nine recommendations.

Mr McAllister said, “The three escort officers involved in this violent incident conducted themselves with absolute professionalism and are deserving of commendation for their actions on the day.”

The review concludes that while the escape was not reasonably foreseeable by ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) there are matters that need to be addressed by ACTCS to minimize the likelihood of incidents of this type occurring in the future.

This incident highlighted gaps in training and procedures to deal with secure escorts and escapes or attempted escapes from external escorts that need to be rectified by ACTCS. There also needs to be more support options available to staff involved in traumatic incidents to assist them remaining at work or returning to work after sick leave arising from incidents.

OICS notes that it is disappointing that ACTCS was using Camry sedans for secure escorts some 12 months after OICS raised concerns in our Review of the ACTCS Court Transport Unit about whether they were fit for purpose in the escort role.

Read the full report here