PARKLEA PRISON RIOTS 1987 & 1990

Two Riots at Parklea Prison
There were two major riots at Parklea Prison during the time Mr Michael Kay worked there. The first was 13th December 1987 and the second 23rd September 1990.   Prison riots are horrible and extremely dangerous situations to be in.  They normally involve prisoners partaking in alcohol and or drugs and as a result, they are unpredictable and do not consider the consequences of their actions.

During the first riot it seems four prisoners were drunk on a gaol brew, made mainly from fruit and sugar, thanks to the Nagel Royal Commission’s introduction of additional quantities of these rations for all prisoners, and it spread rapidly from there. On seeing five prisoners bash Prison Officer Christopher Holmes to the ground, Prison Officer Robert Jarvis rushed to his fellow officer’s aid.  He was struck several times on the head and lay on the ground unconscious. Once he had regained consciousness, his first memory was being surrounded by 15 other prison officers, all of whom had barricaded themselves in a wing.

There were now 40 or 50 prisoners involved, armed with iron bars, threatening to kill these brave officers who feared for their lives, not surprisingly all believing they would be killed as they were seriously outnumbered by the rampaging prisoners. Being unarmed they were unable to effectively defend themselves. They believed they were destined to die.  A large number of prison officer’s sustained injuries during this horrendous critical incident.

In addition to the officers barricaded in a wing, there were two further officers who were trapped in the office on 3 Wing bottom landing; one was First Class Prison Officer Ian Hall whom I knew from my days working at Parklea Prison, and the other was a relatively junior officer.  It must have been mortifying for these two officers realising that the crims had smashed the glass windows that had surrounded the office. They only had bars that barely covered the windows to protect them from being taken hostage by the erupting prisoners.  Without warning, a prisoner walked into the kitchen directly behind and next to the office, in full view of Mr Hall and his partner.  The crim placed oil and water on the stove to boil in readiness to tip over these defenceless officers holed up in the wing.

The rampaging rioting prisoners caused three million dollars worth of damage at the 

New South Wales tax payers’ expense

To read more about these horrific prison riots and to view more unpublished photographs, read my latest eBook, Australia’s Best Prison Stories, available on Amazon.

This I believe.
Peter T Egge

PARKLEA PRISON – A COMPLETE SHAMBLES

Mr Severin must resign or be sacked

The following is an extract I have lifted directly from the internet via Google.

An investigation is being conducted after a prisoner at the Parklea Correctional Centre, in Sydney's north-west, uploaded a video to YouTube showing him in possession of a knife, a "slasher" and the drug ice.

The man filming the video claims that contraband is being brought into the jail by security guards in exchange for money.

"On a day-to-day basis this place is a dead-set joke, it's a dead-set joke," the inmate says.

"Right now, I've got a mobile phone. Why have I got a mobile phone?  Because screws are bringing mobile phones into the jail for money”.

He then shows the camera, a knife, a "slasher" and a part of a TV that could "rip skin".

"Why am I carrying around a knife like that?  Why does that need to be in my hand at this point in time?" he says.

"Why have I got a slasher?  Why do I need to slash people?"

PHOTO: The man demonstrated the strength of the "slasher" by running it along the cell wall. (YouTube)

He then uses the implement to hack into a wall and says: "That's just an example of what it can do to your throat."

Finally, he holds up a clear bag which he says contains the drug “ice”.

"Why have I got it? Because I can."

The man then declares that the "jail is ruining lives and killing the young people".

He points to another inmate and says: "This man, 50 years of jail, why hasn't the system fixed him?"

"Why? ‘Cause the system has never had a mobile phone broadcast live in every correctional centre."

A spokeswoman from Corrective Services NSW said the incident was being viewed as a "very serious breach of security".

A multi-team investigation has commenced, she said, and CSNSW will meet on Monday with the operator of Parklea Correctional Group, GEO Group.

On Saturday a targeted search operation with 40 staff and nine detection dogs found four mobile phones and chargers, steroid tablets and a number of other contraband items at the jail.

"CSNSW takes a zero-tolerance approach and uses a range of methods to track down and confiscate contraband," the spokeswoman said.

"Inmates go to extraordinary lengths to introduce contraband. Methods include internal secretion, visitor smuggling and lobbing of packages over perimeter fences.

"Any suggestions that contraband is introduced by staff are immediately investigated."

NSW Corrective Services Assistant Commissioner Mark Wilson said they are satisfied the video was shot within the prison but any allegations regarding security personnel need to be investigated.

PHOTO: The man purporting to be a prisoner said he had ice "because I can". (YouTube)

My thoughts:

Of course Mr Severin reacted and took corrective action but only following his attention was drawn to the YouTube downloaded by the prisoner whose voice features in the article. It was not Mr Severin or his ineffective, mal-practicing administration that discovered the shoddy work being carried out by the private contractor GEO Group.  This whole sorry episode has only come to light because a lone prisoner had the foresight and courage to stand up and show the world what a disgrace the NSW prison system has become.   A Royal Commission is desperately needed to sort out the extensive problems caused by this very poorly run prison system.

It is, in my opinion, a complete failure, run by a horde of “do gooder’s”.  This must be turned around, in particular when we have a “lone wolf” prisoner screaming for someone to help fix the shambles the NSW prison system has become under the “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” administration and responsibility of the dud Commissioner Mr Severin.   In short, Mr Severin is a “soft cock” who must be stood down.

This I believe

Peter T Egge

CHARLIE GEDDES

I had lunch with Charlie Geddes last week at the Air Force Club.  It was great to see him and catch up on old times.

You can read all about Charlie Geddes’ exploits at the Cessnock Corrective Centre in my latest eBook Australia’s Best Prison Stories, available from Amazon.

RIOT- CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL PRISON (CIP) LONG BAY 22nd AUGUST 1978

Generally speaking there are three ingredients to all riots, Prison Officers working excessive overtime, the prisoner population being overcrowded and hot weather. This riot was to be no different.   The Prison population and to some extent the Prison Officers themselves, were becoming anxious following the release of the Nagel Royal Commission  into New South Wales Prisons report in April, just four months earlier. 

The Prison System had been in turmoil from early 1974.  There had been riots at Long Bay, Parramatta, Maitland and Goulburn Gaols.   In addition Bathurst Gaol had been burnt to the ground in February 1974 which caused the formation of the Royal Commission. 

The Executive staff had received information from an informant two days prior, that the crims would riot on 22nd of August.  Stan Morgan was the Acting Superintendent on that day and his Deputy Superintendent was Frank “Karate Jack” Hutchen.  Mr Morgan was a lovely man but lacked the fortitude to make a decision.   He had spent well over 20 years driving a truck at Parramatta Gaol and badly lacked Gaol experience and as a result lacked the ability to make those difficult and sometimes challenging decisions that Superintendents of Maximum Security Gaols are required to make.  

Mr Hutchen had placed two Officers above the CIP gate.   He had fully armed and double maned the Towers for enhanced security and control in case of a riot as well as preventing an escape should the riot be a ploy to distract Prison staff away from a possible escape exit, as well as the protection of the Officers.  He had also put into place an escape plan for the Officers to evacuate the Gaol safely which included leaving some vital gates unlocked to allow quick access.

At 11.04 hours on 22nd August 1978 the CIP erupted.   The Prison Officers ran for their lives as the prisoners took control of the inside of the CIP.  The noise was deafening as several crims climbed onto the Wing rooves, with most remaining on the ground lighting small fires and arming themselves with iron bars, pieces of wood, in fact anything they could get their hands on.  The do-gooders had put brick flower beds in front of 3 and 4 Wings to ensure the crims had plenty on ammunition to throw at the Officers.

About 80 Officers had gathered outside the CIP gate all geared up in riot gear, with batons, shields, gas masks and overalls if you could get a pair.  The Officers were lined up in four rows.  The tension was enormous.  The Officers simply wanted to retake the Gaol and put it under the control of the Prison administration once more.  To do that someone had to give the order.

To find out more about this true and devastating riot, read my eBook Cutting the Bars – Volume 1, available on Amazon.

The cleanup, the day after the riot in the Central Industrial Prison

Frank Hutchen in the foreground, extreme right

JOHN DOYLE – RIP

I was saddened to read in my recent copy of the Public Service Association of New South Wales gazette “Red Tape” that John Doyle had passed away at home on Saturday 1st April 2017 at the very young age of 67.

I first met John long before I became a Prison Officer in 1971.   In the late 60s I was playing drums in a band called the “Sheer Delight” around the Newcastle/Williamtown/Nelsons Bay area.  We had a large following of local young people at the time and John was one of them.  He told me years later that he had become a musician and had a band of his own purely because he was inspired by my band.  He also specifically enjoyed my band’s rendition of the old Shadows classic “Apache”.

John followed me into the prisons in January 1973, some 20 months after me.  John was a very staunch and loyal Prison Officer with a great grasp on summing up and dealing with difficult situations.  He led by example.  He showed genuine concern for the welfare and conditions of his fellow Prison Officers.  He became an active Union member and he was at one stage the Chairman of the POVB (Prison Officers’ Vocational Branch).

John never indicated to me whether I was an influence on him becoming a Prison Officer or not.  I would like to think that I did factor into his decision.

Last time I saw John was at the court case for Geoff Pearce and we had a long and meaningful discussion there.

You can read about Geoff Pearce’s horrific case in my latest book, “Australia’s Best Prison Stories”, available from Amazon.

John reached the exalted rank of Deputy Superintendent.  To put in more simple words, he was just a good, decent, all round person that you would be pleased to call your friend.

My thoughts go to his family and friends at this time.

This I believe.

Peter T. Egge

Christopher Lorenzo – Woodham’s dog!

In the early 1980s, Ron (Rotten Ron) Woodham was promoted to Superintendent of Internal Investigations of the NSW Department of Corrective Services, a powerful position that could well be said, he created for himself.

During his period of influence as the Superintendent of the Internal Investigations Unit, he gathered a large pack of “dogs” (prisoner informants), as a so called source of information.  Christopher Lorenzo was one of Woodhan’s pack leaders.

During the 1970s, most Prison Officers gleaned information from prisoners from time to time.  We all kept the identity of the informant secret.  There were many reasons for prisoners to pass on information, mostly for revenge, or another prisoner trying to muscle in on their area, eg one prisoner may be trying to overthrow the bookmaker in the prison wing.  Regardless, there was no direct reward for passing the information on to the prison authorities and the identities were never disclosed, a fact that Woodham was less careful with, often placing his “dog” (informant) in danger.

Woodham’s dogs however were different.  For the best part, they were all heroin addicts.  They would sell their own Grandmother’s soul for a benefit to themselves.   You don’t have to go far to see the paybacks that were given to the prisoners in Woodham’s “dog kennel”.   I would suggest that you take the time to read the ICAC Report on Investigation into the Use of Informers, Volume 1 and 2, January 1993, to realise how these prisoners were manipulated or they manipulated the system, to gain a vast array of privileges ranging from conjugal visits to early release in return for giving evidence against fellow prisoners and also Prison Officers.

Of course this evidence was extremely dubious, dangerous and unsafe at law.  The ICAC Report clearly found that the practice was unacceptable and recommended its immediate discontinuation.

Christopher Lorenzo was placed on protection at Berrima Gaol in 1987.  Protection prisoners are as a general rule hated by all other prisoners and most Prison Officers.

Whilst Lorenzo was at Berrima Gaol, I observed his girlfriend arguing with Andrew Tregurtha, a prisoner serving a life sentence for the insidious murders of Greek Consulate, Constantine Giannaris and school teacher Peter Parkes.  This argument took place between the bars at the visiting section and the Gaol proper.  Tregurtha was locked up by Assistant Superintendent Gardener immediately following the argument with Lorenzo’s girlfriend, not because of the argument but rather at Tregurtha’s own request.

The following morning sadly, Andrew Tregurtha, at that time only 22 years of age, was found hung in his cell by a young Prison Officer.  I took the weight and held Tregurtha while Alan Pitt cut the cord from above his head and we both placed him on his bed for the Police.  It was obvious to me that he had been dead for several hours, possibly not long after he had been locked in his cell after the argument with Lorenzo’s girlfriend, a pertinent point that was never investigated by the Police or the sitting Coroner.

Following his release, Lorenzo was later charged with murder and sentenced accordingly.  It was not uncommon for Woodham’s “dogs” to continue on their careers as criminals.  In Woodham’s case, the old adage applies, “If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas”!

I have been informed that Lorenzo died at the Prince of Wales Hospital on 9th January 2011.  I can assure you that the only people grieving over his death would be his immediate family.

You can read more about my dealings with Christopher Lorenzo in my best selling eBook, “It’s All in the Fall”, available through Amazon.

This I believe.
Peter Egge

IAN JOHN STEELE.

I noticed in the news this week that Ian John Steele has been extradited from England back to New South Wales to face some very serious charges, including an amazing escape from Long Bay Gaol.  

Steele, also known as “Peter Rabbit” by his criminal cohorts, is a very dangerous and cunning criminal.  He escaped from the Long Bay Prison Complex and made his way to England where he continued his violent criminal activities.

In 1990 he received a life sentence for murder plus 21 years for 15 armed robberies.  He was extradited last week after serving 27 years in maximum security in Her Majesty’s Gaol in England.  

The following is an extract from my latest book “Australia’s Best Prison Stories”.

Prison Officer Paul Lefoe
From day one I knew Paul Lefoe was going to be a well above average prison officer.  In the 1970s it was rare for a prison officer to have carried on with his school education past the age of 15. The educational requirement for entry into the Department of Corrective Services was the School Certificate or the previous equivalent being the Intermediate Certificate, or in some cases even less depending on the circumstances.  Paul had completed his School Certificate in 1973 and his Higher School Certificate in 1975 at Granville South High School.  In my opinion, those extra two years at high school make a great deal of difference to an individual’s formal education. Following the completion of his schooling, he embarked on a career in customer service and sales, ultimately becoming a branch manager of a major company.

On 6th August 1979 Mr Lefoe commenced duty as a Probationary Prison Officer.   He was a very fast learner and earned the trust and respect of his senior officers.

About 11.00 hours on 28th November 1982, four very dangerous prisoners attempted to escape the Long Bay Prison complex. They were led by Gregory Norman McHardie, (the Woolworth’s bomber), and included Ian John Steele, Wayne Garry Le Petit and Barry Charles King.  They had plaited sheets together to use as a rope and had used a weighted pillow case to throw over the wall.

As the four prisoners were attempting their desperate endeavours to escape, they were sighted by Prison Officer Terence Sullivan who was doing tower duty and he fired a warning shot and shouted to the prisoners, “Drop them or I’ll put one through you”.  At the same time Mr Lefoe had witnessed the incident unfold and quickly ran to block the access of the prisoners back into the main part of the gaol.

As the would be escapees approached a chain wire fence and gate, Mr Lefoe, without any thought to self-preservation and with his mind totally fixed on the job at hand, tried desperately to put the lock onto the gate.  McHardie had wrapped his arm around the bolt preventing Mr Lefoe from securing the lock in place.  An equal opponent to the task, Mr Lefoe gripped the locking device effectively preventing the prisoner’s entry.   Steele began to abuse him and threatened his life while at the same time he picked up a long broom handle and began to savagely strike Mr Lefoe through the wire in a vain effort for him to loosen his grip. It was McHardie who was the first to let go allowing Mr Lefoe to place the lock on the gate as other officers started to arrive and subdue the four prisoners.

Mr Lefoe had held on valiantly while receiving a broken rib and several other injuries. He proved he was a razor in battle and an officer who could be relied upon in the most trying of conditions while in the face of certain danger.

He was recognised for his bravery and awarded “The Minister’s Citation for Bravery”. The front of the Citation reads, “For distinguished service to the people of New South Wales, Prison Officer Paul Lefoe in recognition of the bravery displayed in preventing the escape of dangerous prisoners, Malabar, 28th November 1982”.

Ian John Steele also known as “Peter Rabbit” was charged with the added charge of assaulting Mr Lefoe in addition to the attempted escape charges that all four prisoners had to answer.  Steele was a very bad man.  He was a convicted robber and a kidnapper.  

He escaped a few months later on 17th February 1983 from Darlinghurst Court.  He found his way to Perth Western Australia where he carried out at least four robberies before fleeing to Victoria.  It was in Melbourne in 1984 that he was shot by “Super Cop” Detective Jimmy Venn in Swanston Street.  Steel had fired a sawn off shot gun at Detective Venn and his partner Detective Paul “Fish” Mullett.

Super Cop Venn returned fire hitting Steele in the head and shoulders however Steele somehow survived.  He received a sentence of 17 years with a 13 year non-parole period.   After secretly shaving off his beard, he escaped from Long Bay Gaol by boldly wearing a prison officer’s hat and simply walked straight out of the gaol’s main gate on 17th January 1986.


To find out more about Ian John Steele, alias “Peter Rabbit”, you can purchase my book, Australia’s Best Prison Stories through Amazon.

Peter Egge