Prison officers will crack-down on mobile phones, drugs and weapons being smuggled into Hunter jails as part of a statewide operation to stamp-out contraband.
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Cells and common areas will be searched at Cessnock Correctional Centre and St Heliers Correctional Centre at Muswelbrook over the next 11 weeks during Operation Purge, the NSW Government announced on Wednesday.
“I have had a gut-full of inmates using mobile phones, drugs and weapons being smuggled inside prisons,” Corrections Minister David Elliott said.
“We know that most contraband is introduced by visitors and handed over during visits. This is completely unacceptable.”
According to Corrective Services NSW, 70 of the 5249 visitors to Cessnock jail between January 1, 2017, and the end of May were denied entry.
Of those, 43 were charged with contraband-related offences.
More than 700g of tobacco, 15.89g of methamphetamine, 41.38g of cannabis, 132 syringes and 43 steroid tablets were seized at the Cessnock facility during that period. Corrective Services officers also found three knives, one taser, two iron bars, one knuckle duster and $94,635 in cash during that time.
“Our corrections officers are already having an impact on detecting and removing contraband from the prison system – this operation will take it to the next level,” Mr Elliott said.
Fairfax Media reported in June that more contraband had been found at Cessnock Correctional Centre between last December and April than any other prison in NSW.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Wilson has been put in charge of Operation Purge.
“Contraband poses a significant threat to the safe and secure operation of correctional centres around the world,” he said.
“Our tireless campaign to eradicate contraband from the NSW prison system will continue, as we develop new technologies and means of detection.”
There are about 13,000 inmates serving time across the state’s 36 prisons. The government is expanding Cessnock jail, to include an extra 1000 beds.