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WA jails 'chronically overcrowded'

WA jails 'chronically overcrowded'

The WA Prison Officers' Union has called on the Government to use the forthcoming Budget to expand the capacity of WA's prison system, describing the State's jails as "chronically overcrowded".

WAPOU State secretary John Welch said the Government was not building new cells fast enough to cater for the increase of prisoners in a system which last month exceeded 5500 prisoners for the first time.

“What we want to see in this State Budget is a commitment to increasing the capacity of our prison system, which is currently packed to the rafters,” he said.

“The overcrowding increases the potential for violent incidents which are a direct threat to the safety of our members.”

Mr Welch accused the Government of being "tricky" with figures by switching methods of calculating capacity.

Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis said the Government was effectively managing the prison population which he said was more than 1300 below the capacity of 6865.

"Even more capacity will be added when the new Eastern Goldfields Prison opens shortly.