Women's prison worst for assaults

Prisoners in WA's only dedicated jail for women are assaulting staff at a rate up to three times higher than offenders in the two maximum security facilities for men, a report by the independent prisons' watchdog has found.

The report, tabled in State Parliament yesterday, also noted that the rate of assault in WA prisons was higher than the national average over the past five years, though it warns caution should be used in comparing the statistics.

Inspector of Custodial Services Neil Morgan said in the report that the rate and number of assaults against staff at Bandyup Women's Prison, which doubled to 40 last year, was alarming.

Professor Morgan attributed the rate of staff assaults at Bandyup to a combination of high rates of mental illness, overcrowding that meant women had little to do, poor conditions, limited service and too many female offenders being placed in higher than necessary security settings.

Professor Morgan warned that the statistics could be distorted by the behaviour of one prisoner or because of one incident, citing an example of one woman who committed eight assaults in two days in September last year.

He said in the context of more than 5000 prisoners held in jails in WA each day, assaults against staff were relatively infrequent and serious assaults were rare.

In the five years from 2008 to 2012, there were 44 recorded incidents of staff assault, which equates to an average of seven or eight a month. There were 22 serious assaults, which are incidents which need overnight hospitalisation or ongoing medical treatment.

The report also revealed that the department plans to set up mental health precincts in Bandyup and Casuarina, which would help address one of the issues identified as contributing to staff assaults. But Professor Morgan said the precincts would take some time to open and steps needed to be taken in the interim.

Corrective Services Commissioner James McMahon said the report had recognised the dedication and skill of staff working in often challenging conditions. He said his priority was to improve the capacity to accommodate female prisoners and a plan was being prepared.