THE State Government will undertake a sweeping crackdown on drugs and contraband being smuggled into the Mount Gambier Prison, including random testing of guards for illicit substances.
This comes as new figures show there were nearly 13,500 prison searches at the Mount Gambier privately-run correctional facility between July last year and April.
These searches netted 54 contraband finds and 32 visitors were banned due to a prohibited item being detected.
As part of legislation being introduced, associates of outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime groups will be barred from visiting the Mount Gambier Prison to stop them “peddling drugs”.
According to the government, there were 162 prisoners across the state considered to be associates of outlaw gangs.
Correctional Services Minister Corey Wingard said the government was forging ahead with its “zero tolerance” policy on drugs in the state’s prisons, including Mount Gambier.
He said internal intelligence showed outlaw motorcycle gang members were infiltrating all prisons across the state.
Mr Wingard said the new laws also proposed testing prison officers, staff and contractors for alcohol and illegal drugs in a bid to block potential avenues for drug incursion.
“Unfortunately, drugs are infiltrating our prisons and those behind bars associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs attempt to continue criminal activities and associations whilst in custody or recruit new members,” Mr Wingard said.
“The introduction of this bill is the first step to stamping out the scourge of drugs in our prisons and cracking down on members of outlaw motorcycle gangs.”
Mr Wingard said legislation in its current form provided no power to prevent members of organised crime groups from visiting prisons and associating with prisoners.
“This bill will introduce an amendment that specifically recognises criminal organisations as defined in the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935,” he said.
“In doing so it will enable Department for Correctional Services (DCS) to work closely with SAPOL to limit the power and control of organised crime groups and sever links between prisoners and their associates.
“The bill also introduces drug and alcohol testing for Correctional Services staff, including G4S officers at Mount Gambier Prison, on a random and targeted basis.
“There will be a strict no-tolerance rule for people under the influence of drugs or alcohol on prison grounds.
“Ultimately this bill will assist DCS to block potential avenues for drug incursion and increase the safety, security and integrity of the prison system.”
According to the Department for Correctional Services, 32 visitors were banned from Mount Gambier Prison due to a prohibited item being detected.
This could mean they either had contraband or contraband traces on a person or scans indicated that it was in their system.
“DCS takes the ever present threat of individuals attempting to introduce contraband into the SA prison system extremely seriously,” the department spokesperson said.
“The department and SAPOL have a zero-tolerance approach towards visitors who are caught attempting to introduce contraband into a prison.”
Offenders may face prosecution, along with up to five years imprisonment, and also a ban from visiting any South Australian prison.
