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NSW prison staff on standby in case of rioting as smoking ban comes into force NSW prison staff on standby in case of rioting as smoking ban comes into force
(about 1 hour later)
NSW prisons have become smoke-free zones as a ban on cigarettes and tobacco becomes effective on Monday.NSW prisons have become smoke-free zones as a ban on cigarettes and tobacco becomes effective on Monday.
Smoking will not be permitted on the grounds of any NSW correctional centre, including outdoor areas, car parks and visitor processing areas. Cigarettes, tobacco and smoking-related items such as matches, lighters and e-cigarettes will also be banned.Smoking will not be permitted on the grounds of any NSW correctional centre, including outdoor areas, car parks and visitor processing areas. Cigarettes, tobacco and smoking-related items such as matches, lighters and e-cigarettes will also be banned.
Prison staff will be on standby in case there is any repeat of the rioting when Victoria introduced a similar ban.Prison staff will be on standby in case there is any repeat of the rioting when Victoria introduced a similar ban.
“If things do go wrong, we need to be prepared for that as well because we certainly don’t want to have a repeat of what happened in Victoria,” Corrective Services NSW commissioner Peter Severin told ABC Radio on Monday.
Prisoners in Melbourne’s Metropolitan remand centre in Ravenhall smashed doors, walls and fences, and ruined the fire alarm and heating systems after a smoking ban was introduced at the beginning of July. Damages were estimated at $12m.Prisoners in Melbourne’s Metropolitan remand centre in Ravenhall smashed doors, walls and fences, and ruined the fire alarm and heating systems after a smoking ban was introduced at the beginning of July. Damages were estimated at $12m.
“This is the modern world – this is just one of many, many policies which prisoners may find unpalatable, but the fact of the matter is if you want freedom of choice, don’t go to jail,” NSW corrective services minister David Elliott told 2GB Radio.
Related: NSW prisons prepare for smoking ban with Victorian riot fresh in the memoryRelated: NSW prisons prepare for smoking ban with Victorian riot fresh in the memory
Severin said prison officers would not be lighting up in front of inmates. He said some staff lived on prison compounds, but well away from the actual prison, in homes they rented.
“These staff will be able to smoke outdoors when they are off duty – well out of sight of any inmates,” he said.
Last month the former federal Liberal senator Chris Puplick, now chairman of NSW Justice Health, said he expected a “smooth transition” in NSW prisons.Last month the former federal Liberal senator Chris Puplick, now chairman of NSW Justice Health, said he expected a “smooth transition” in NSW prisons.
“In places like the Northern Territory and New Zealand when they introduced smoke-free prisons there was no significant problem,” he said.“In places like the Northern Territory and New Zealand when they introduced smoke-free prisons there was no significant problem,” he said.
NSW Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, along with Corrective Services NSW, has been planning for the ban since 2013.NSW Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, along with Corrective Services NSW, has been planning for the ban since 2013.
Its 2009 Inmate Health Survey found more than three-quarters of participants were smokers, five times higher than the state average, and 85% of those smokers indicated they would like to quit.Its 2009 Inmate Health Survey found more than three-quarters of participants were smokers, five times higher than the state average, and 85% of those smokers indicated they would like to quit.
“Inmates have been provided with a range of outdoor and indoor activities as alternatives to smoking, including sports equipment, competitions and playing cards,” Corrective Services said in a statement.“Inmates have been provided with a range of outdoor and indoor activities as alternatives to smoking, including sports equipment, competitions and playing cards,” Corrective Services said in a statement.
Severin said prisoners would receive appropriate support as the policy was introduced.
“We are fortunate in NSW because we do have immediate-action teams in our maximum security facilities. They are not there to throw their weight around; they are there to provide a very finely tuned blanket of security and support the staff.
“It is sometimes a different job, particularly in situations where we introduced major, major policy change,” he said.
The transition to the ban has already led to an attempt at a black market trade; a stash of tobacco and other items were uncovered in a Sydney prison last week.The transition to the ban has already led to an attempt at a black market trade; a stash of tobacco and other items were uncovered in a Sydney prison last week.
The items were thought to have been purchased legally but their black market value after the ban could be more than $12,000, Corrective Services said in a statement.The items were thought to have been purchased legally but their black market value after the ban could be more than $12,000, Corrective Services said in a statement.