QCS Officers deployed to support SEQ prisons
Custodial Correctional Officers from North, Far North and Central Queensland are being deployed to help maintain safety and security at South East Queensland correctional centres in the lead-up to Tropical Cyclone Alfred making landfall.
An initial 10 officers from Townsville Correctional Centre and Maryborough Correctional Centre travelled south to support colleagues and centres through the weather event on Wednesday.
More officers from Lotus Glen Correctional Centre (Mareeba) and Maryborough Correctional Centre were deployed overnight.
The officers will be deployed to assist both during the severe weather event and during the recovery phase whilst relieving local officers who are dealing with the event personally.
QCS Commissioner Paul Sewart APM said Queensland Corrective Services is a top-tier public service agency that operates 24/7 with work being undertaken to ensure the safety and security of centres, including during natural disasters.
"Queensland Corrective Services is pre-positioning officers in South East Queensland to ensure public safety and the ongoing operational needs of high and low security correctional centres," he said.
"We are thankful to all those officers from up North who have put up their hand to assist their colleagues down south, and I thank them for their service to both the agency and their state.
"Our Northern Colleagues are no strangers to this type of weather, and in some cases are more experienced in recovering from these types of events, and their operational capabilities and expertise will be vital."
Last month, Custodial Correctional Officers from South East Queensland were deployed to Townsville Correctional Complex to support officers following a year's worth of rainfall in just a week.
The reinforcements ensured public safety and allowed officers who had been working long hours at the centre to take much-deserved rest.
Low security prisoners and QCS work camps are also being readied to assist local councils and community organisations with disaster recovery activities, as required.
