Mass Escape Foiled at Villawood
Media Release - DPS 1/2003
A mass breakout was thwarted at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre last night by the quick actions of detention and security officers.
Detainees caused extensive damage to equipment and buildings, setting fires and destroying an accommodation block.
"Enhanced security measures put in place as a result of disturbances in other centres prevented the breakout and escalation of the disturbance," the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today.
Nevertheless, it is estimated that the detainees caused more than $0.5 million in damage.
As well as setting fire to the Accommodation Block, the men smashed windows in the Administration block to steal keys to one of the ACM officer's private cars in the compound.
Detainees used the car to ram the gates in a mass breakout attempt while others tried to force the perimeter fence.
Three small fires were also started in another area, apparently as a diversionary measure, but were quickly extinguished with only minor damage.
Quick action by detention and security officers prevented the escapes, and brought the situation under control," the spokesperson said.
Some detainees incurred minor injuries which were treated on site by the ACM medical staff.
This was criminal damage of the worst kind -a rampage intended to cause destruction with no regard for the safety of the other detainees housed at Villawood."
The spokesperson said that there was extensive contingency planning by DIMIA and Australian Correctional Management (ACM) in the lead up to the holiday period, particularly after weekend fires at other centres.
Early intelligence of a possible break out and disturbance at the Centre had given the Department time to instigate precautionary security measures.
DIMIA officers co-ordinated a rapid response which brought the New South Wales Police, Fire and Ambulance services to the centre.
The Australian Federal Police are on site to investigate, and prosecutions may follow.
The accommodation block that was burnt out housed people regarded as security risks.
For example, they are people who have been involved in serious disturbances or assaults, or are assessed as likely to abscond into the community. Some may have criminal records.
The officers have identified 20 detainees who participated in the rampage. Fourteen are Chinese, and others are from Vietnam, Spain, Jordan, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
One of the key ringleaders is due for deportation today.
Note: at 30 December 2002, there were 513 detainees at Villawood, of whom 14 are unauthorised boat arrivals, and 257 are overstayers. Ninety were housed in the burnt-out accommodation block.
The capacity of Villawood was some 550 places, but at least 40 accommodation places have been lost in this incident. However, there are another 200 places in a contingency reserve.
1 January 2003
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