Hakea Prison: Advocates and family members gather outside Canning Vale facility after recent deaths in custody

Tensions were high outside WA’s toughest prison when dozens of people protested against conditions at the facility in the wake of two recent deaths in custody. Protest organiser and activist Simone Loo said those who converged on Hakea Prison on Monday wanted to let men in custody across WA know “they were not alone” after a 51-year-old man is understood to have taken his own life at the Canning Vale jail last week. The man’s death came less than a week after a 17-year-old boy fatally self-harmed at Banksia Hill Detention Centre — the second juvenile to die in detention in less than a year after Cleveland Dodd’s death. Ms Loo lost her brother, Kingsley Garlett, to suicide while he was incarcerated at Casuarina Prison two years ago. “The boys are not doing good on the inside,” she told The West. “My brother’s son was there protesting with me today, it hurts that other families are going through what I’m going through. “These boys are hanging themselves because they can’t take it.” Protestors slammed living conditions at the facility — which included claims of consecutive 23-hour lockdowns, triple-bunking in two-person cells and family members having visits cancelled at the last minute. A blockade of police officers faced off with the emotional crowd, who were holding signs calling for change. The Department of Justice confirmed “adaptive routines” at facilities — including Hakea Prison — were being used “amid higher prisoner populations across WA.” “These allow for redeployment of officers to meet operational priorities,” a spokesman said. “This can result in (the) cancellation of certain activities, including social visits, and a temporary reduction of time spent out of cells. “Most cells at Hakea are built to accommodate multiple beds and there are beds available for all prisoners.” A WA Police spokesman confirmed no protesters were arrested or issued move-on notices outside the facility. WA Prison Officers’ Union Andy Smith told The West last month that staffing levels at the facility were at their “worst”. “At the moment we are at our worst level for staffing and we are well beyond the capacity of prisons to house the number of prisoners that we’ve got,” Mr Smith said. “At Hakea, we’ve now got cells that were designed for one prisoner that have now got three in them. “Two will be in bunk beds and the third is on the floor on a mattress, and that person will have their head next to the toilet that all three men have to use during the night. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said a review of prison staffing levels was under review. “Staffing is being increased through concerted recruitment and training to bring at least 288 new Prison Officers into operations state-wide in 2024, with further expansions expected for the coming years.” The Department of Justice confirmed five men had already died at Hakea Prison as of September 3 this year. In 2023 there was a total of two deaths and just one at the facility in 2021. There were two disturbances inside Hakea in August — which included an incident involving about half a dozen inmates and a room being damaged, in the area known as Unit 4, on August 19. Another smaller disturbance erupted the following day. Hakea Prison holds prisoners who have been remanded in custody ahead of their next court date and those who have just been sentenced. Lifeline: 13 11 14