On today’s news, (Tuesday 3rd January 2017), I have noticed two major events in the New South Wales Prison system under the management and responsibility of Peter Severin, the current ineffectual NSW Commissioner of Corrective Services.Firstly, the completely avoidable murder of a 71 year old prisoner, allegedly bashed to death by his 77 year old, triple murderer cell mate.
Even in the early 1970s when overcrowding in the New South Wales prison system was at its peak, triple murderers were never place two out, (two prisoners per cell). Lifers were always one prisoner per cell.
To my mind, having these two elderly prisoners in the one cell borders on criminal negligence and this killing should never have occurred.
Once again, it reflects purely on the management of the prison system, trying to save a few dollars and in their vain efforts to do so, have cost a 71 year old prisoner his life.
The devastation to this man’s family is irreversible and is completely unwarranted.
I hope the family sues the Department of Corrective Services for their utter negligence by not affording this man safe and proper care.
Also today I have noticed a major riot at Bathurst Gaol where a prison officer was injured and chemical weapons were needed to control the prisoners. Obviously Mr. Severin’s favoured Training Director Ms. Lauren Oliver has once again failed in her training of the prison officers as they were clearly unable to de-escalate a volatile situation correctly.
There have been no lessons learnt from the dreadful and devastating riot at the same gaol on 3rd and 4th February 1974. You can read more about the destruction and riot at Bathurst Gaol in my book It’s all in the Fall available from this webpage or Amazon.
This I believe.
Peter T Egge
