JUNEE TARGETED DURING CONTRABAND CRACKDOWN

November 12, 2017

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed the results of the largest prison contraband operation in the state’s history, which netted prison made weapons, prison brew, and a needle from Junee Correctional Centre.

More than 1300 custodial officers and 90 Security Operations Group officers attached to Operation Purge searched 8,377 inmates, 5,079 cells and 576 common walls across 36 NSW prisons over an 11-week period.

At the Junee Correctional Centre, which is a medium and minimum security facility for male offenders, 395 inmates, 283 cells and six common areas were searched, resulting in the following contraband being seized: 

• 3 x prison-made weapons

• 1L of prison-made brew

• 1 x needle

“Operation Purge left no stone unturned, targeting all 36 prisons across the state, including our local prison, where a number of illegal items were seized,” Ms Cooke said. 

Minister for Corrections David Elliott said an unprecedented number of resources were dedicated to Operation Purge and it had paid off. 

“Operation Purge achieved exactly what it was set out to do and we now have 105 inmates from across the state facing charges for compromising the safety and security of our prison system,” Mr Elliott said. 

“The terrific work of our custodial officers, local intelligence and modern technology was already having a dramatic impact on detecting and removing contraband from the prison system – Operation Purge took this to the next level.”

CSNSW Commissioner Peter Severin said being in possession of contraband can result in prosecution, segregation, withdrawal of privileges, and no contact visits for up to 56 days.