6 | Key issues and concerns
The accommodation format results in very poor line
of sight for detention security provider staff. The
compound offices also provide staff with no view
of the compound and increase the risk of centre
staff being unable to respond to developments
in a timely manner, unless alerted or constantly
monitoring security cameras. The Commission also
found the number of officers working within these
compounds to be very low, with up to 150 people
being supervised by only 2 to 3 officers at any one
time.
In contrast to the Hawk and Falcon compounds, the
design and layout of the high-security compounds,
Cassowary, Kingfisher, Swan and Eagle, was more
functional. Swan and Kingfisher each have one
wing of 10 rooms, while Cassowary and Eagle
have two wings of 10 rooms each. Swan was
the most restrictive compound and was used to
accommodate people with the highest risk rating as
assessed by centre staff. Cassowary was used for
those who, for various reasons, required protection
from the general population.
The staff office within these compounds has good
lines of sight into the common areas of each wing
and the recreation yard. Each compound is of
manageable size – housing as few as 10 and no
more than 30 to 40 people – and separated from
other compounds by fences.
While the design and layout of these compounds
was much better than the Hawk and Falcon
compounds, the Commission noted in its 2019
inspections of the high security compounds that
Figure 2: Hawk compound accommodation outside
People in the Hawk and Falcon compounds
informed the Commission about concerns that
their accommodation could be easily compromised,
and their privacy invaded. When asked about why
people were unable to lock their rooms (as is the
case in all other compounds), Serco and ABF staff
advised that there was no practical reason for this
other than that it was the way the centre was built.
While consideration had been given to installing a
swipe card system, the Commission was told that
the cost was ‘prohibitive’. Additionally, the condition
of the transportable units was generally poor and
rooms were small and cramped.
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… infrastructure in these high-security
compounds is harsh and prison-like and
generally not appropriate for administrative
detention. The compounds also do not offer
adequate privacy, particularly due to the
lack of bathroom doors, limited secluded
spaces and the use of shared accommodation
arrangements. The Commission observed
that shower curtains had been installed in
some compounds to provide some separation
between bathrooms and sleeping quarters.
Even with curtains installed, however, the
Commission is concerned that this does
not afford sufficient privacy under shared
accommodation arrangements.47