September 1, 2024
Border Force must be given extra powers to stop dangerous criminals running amok inside the nation's immigration detention system before the "festering crisis" turns deadly.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Senator James Paterson says the federal government has been presiding over "a growing criminal detention crisis" and "failed to provide Border Force the powers they need to protect their officers and the community".
The call for "urgent attention" comes after The Sunday Mail revealed a prison-like culture has developed as the population in the 11 centres across Australia shifts from asylum seekers who arrived by boat, to people whose visas have been cancelled on character grounds.
Assistant commissioner onshore detention Sarah Nicolson said the current cohort "adds a higher degree of volatility and criminal experience into the system".
"In the past five years we have seen an increasingly higher risk criminal cohort than traditionally and many detainees have served prison sentences for rape, murder, robbery, and we find ourselves increasingly needing to manage that risk," she said. "With that type of cohort comes illicit substances, the establishment of drug networks operating inside and outside facilities and standover tactics used.
"We are seeing narcotics, illicit drugs coming through and that leads to substance related incidents and regular threats and acts of violence against other detainees, our staff and contractors." Detainees have access to telecommunications devices and computers while in detention. Under existing arrangements, there is no ability for the ABF to restrict access to these items - including dedicated encrypted telecommunications devices.
Currently, staff are unable to make searches of incoming property or detainees for drugs.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he was working with Border Force on this issue.
