All Australian immigration detainees to be handcuffed while travelling, US company says after spate of escapes

The Management and Training Corporation began operating Australia’s immigration detention centres last March, after winning a $2.3bn contract. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images View image in fullscreen The Management and Training Corporation began operating Australia’s immigration detention centres last March, after winning a $2.3bn contract. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images All Australian immigration detainees to be handcuffed while travelling, US company says after spate of escapes Exclusive: Documents viewed by Australia" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="329" data-entity-type="organization">Guardian Australia reveal private prison contractor told staff ‘restraints must be used’ for all risk levels Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The American private prison company running Australia’s onshore immigration detention system has ordered that all detainees be handcuffed while travelling – regardless of whether they pose a risk – after a string of security lapses. More than a dozen escapes or attempted escapes have taken place since the Management and Training Corporation (MTC) began operating the immigration detention centres last March, having won a $2.3bn contract with the Department of Home Affairs. Internal documents seen by Australia" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="329" data-entity-type="organization">Guardian Australia reveal MTC executives told staff on Saturday they must now handcuff all detainees during escorts. That applies to detainees who pose a low risk, with only those with a medical reason to be spared. “I am emailing to further instruct that the following occurs, effective immediately: mandatory restraints must be used for all T&E [transport and escort] tasks, unless medically contraindicated,” the document reads. That includes using handcuffs for “all low and medium risk tasks”. MTC has also ordered that at least four staff be present for detainee travel, excluding a driver, for higher-risk escorts. That is up from the three staff previously required. The directive could add pressure on already “critically” understaffed detention facilities, which have been the subject of ongoing scrutiny by the detention watchdog, unions and departmental staff. It comes after a detainee allegedly started a fire at an unmanned demountable staff compound at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre last week. The detainee has since been charged and appeared before the Bankstown local court. An initial mental health report read in court said the detainee presented as someone with symptoms of mental illness, and had recently been admitted to hospital, but was discharged. A departmental source told Australia" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="329" data-entity-type="organization">Guardian Australia the detainee had previously displayed behavioural concerns and had been flagged for enhanced monitoring at the time of the incident. Despite this, no staff were present in the compound where the fire was lit. The source said the department was concerned the compound may have been left vacant for several hours before the fire. The fire came in the same week that a detainee at Villawood allegedly managed to escape during an escort to a hospital on Wednesday. The most serious of the escape attempts involved a detainee who was being taken from Villawood to Sydney airport for deportation. He was transported in an unmodified, unsecured Kia Carnival, with no handcuffs and no barrier to separate him from staff, despite having a high-risk rating. Vehicle registration records show the car MTC was using was insured as a “hire and drive yourself vehicle”. The detainee allegedly stabbed two staff and fled the Kia. He has since been arrested and is facing a string of criminal charges in the NSW local court. Australia" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="329" data-entity-type="organization">Guardian Australia has approached the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, and MTC, which operates the onshore detention system via a local subsidiary, Secure Journeys, for comment. A spokesperson for the Australian Border Force said it was working with the contractor to “ensure each facility is safely and appropriately staffed”. “Secure Journeys is required to meet strict contractual, legislative and policy obligations in delivering detention services, and the department actively monitors their performance,” the spokesperson said. “Where concerns are raised, including around staffing, the department addresses them through established contract management and assurance processes.” Explore more on these topics Australian immigration and asylum Migration Human rights news Share Reuse this content