Published Monday, 17 November, 2008 at 06:00 PM

Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence

Low-risk prisoners pitch in to help Brisbane storm clean-up

Low-risk prisoners are being sent from Toowoomba to Brisbane’s northern suburbs to assist with the clean-up after Sunday’s devastating storms.

Queensland Corrective Services is diverting Darling Downs Correctional Centre work camp prisoners from their usual duties in western Queensland communities to provide assistance in The Gap, Keperra and Upper Kedron areas.

Minister for Police and Corrective Services Judy Spence said the supply of prisoner labour, together with more than 60 police recruits, would add to the critical mass of the clean-up effort.

Fifteen prisoners and three supervisors from Toowoomba are scheduled to arrive in Brisbane tomorrow morning.

A further five prisoners and one supervisor will join the crew on Wednesday, taking the total number of prisoners assisting to 20.

Prisoners will be supervised at all times by experienced corrective services officers and will travel to and from the clean-up sites each day from the Darling Downs Correctional Centre.

Prisoners will assist with clearing debris and roof tarping. The crew will also bring a truck and chainsaws to assist with the clean-up activities.

Ms Spence said the Department of Emergency Services’ disaster operations area had contacted Queensland Corrective Services today asking for urgent prisoner assistance.

“The prisoner work camps have frequently worked with disaster management groups and local communities in the wake of natural disasters.

“Earlier this year we had close to 100 prisoners deployed throughout Queensland to help local communities including Beaudesert, Charleville and Emerald with their flood relief efforts,” Ms Spence said.

“The Darling Downs centre, in particular, has a history of answering the call for help – they were the first work camp crew on the ground in Innisfail to assist after Cyclone Larry.

“Their women’s work camp at Warwick provided valuable assistance to horse owners affected by the equine flu quarantine at the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre, and they have sent crews to Tara, St George and Beaudesert after wild storms and flooding.

“Community safety is paramount. Corrective services officers will supervise the prisoners at all times while they are working in the northern suburbs.

“Prisoners have always responded with enthusiasm to these calls for assistance. It gives low-risk prisoners an important opportunity to give something back to communities,” Ms Spence said.

The crew will remain in the area for as long as their assistance is required. Prisoners with sexual offending backgrounds are not eligible to be part of the crews.

There are currently 13 permanent work camps across Queensland providing opportunities for about 124 male and 38 female offenders to work on community service projects.

During 2007-08, work camp prisoners completed more than 100,000 hours of community service, worth an equivalent of $1.5 million to Queensland communities.

The prisoners are continuing a tradition of assisting communities affected by natural disasters that began in 1990 when 101 prisoners were sent to Charleville after devastating floods.

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