A government funded legal body has suspended visits by its lawyers to inmates at a Perth women’s prison over safety concerns.
At Melaleuca women’s prison disputes over illicit drugs have led to violent assaults and guards are often reluctant to intervene, lawyers have told the ABC.
Legal Aid WA told employees the suspension would stay in place until it was guaranteed the right security measures were taken to prevent violence against staff.
The Criminal Lawyers Association of WA (CLAWA) said Legal Aid’s decision to stop sending lawyers meant the problems at Melaleuca were ‘extremely significant.’
‘Once again our clients are failing to receive access to justice,’ CLAWA said.
The Department of Corrective Services owns the prison, which opened just five months ago, and has instructed private operator Sodexo to fix the problems.
The operator faces claims the prison is poorly run, lacks discipline and is rife with illicit drugs. Sodexo denies these claims.
Legal Aid WA declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Source: Lawyers refusing to go to Melaleuca women’s prison | Daily Mail Online
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