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Smoking to be banned at Adelaide prison

May 29, 2015
Prisoners will be banned from smoking at the Adelaide Remand Centre. File photo

Prisoners will be banned from smoking at the Adelaide Remand Centre. File photo

Smoking will be banned in all areas at Adelaide Remand Centre by March next year, the State Government has announced.

Prisoners at the male-only maximum security prison will effectively be forced to quit smoking, which will no-longer be allowed in their cells.

Adelaide Remand Centre, on Currie Street in the city, has very limited outdoor areas – but smoking will be banned from the entire facility.

Correctional Services Minister Tony Piccolo said the change would make prisons a healthier place for staff and prisoners.

“Approximately four out of every five prisoners smokes; whilst in the community it is closer to one in five,” said Piccolo.

“The Adelaide Remand Centre going smoke free is the first step to address this.

“The results of this pilot will guide how we look at making other prisons smoke free.”

Public Service Association chief industrial officer Peter Christopher told InDaily second-hand smoke inhaled when entering prison cells had caused serious health problems for corrections officers.

“This should have been resolved 30 years ago,” said Christopher.

“Workplaces have generally been smoke-free for several decades, but unfortunately, for those workers whose job involves entering prison cells, they have not had the protection that other employees have.

“Like any other worker in any other job in Australia, they should not have to suffer working in a smoke-filled environment.”

Christopher acknowledged that many prisoners would be “very unhappy” with the change.

However, he expressed little sympathy for prisoners who feel they have a right to smoke.

“If individuals want to continue smoking, then, frankly, the best way is not to finish up in jail,” he said.

“If people commit crimes and be arrested, there are consequences.

“One of those consequences is the deprivation of liberty, another one of those consequences is not being able to smoke.

“They have no right to injure correctional officers who are forced to endure entering a smoke-filled environment.”

Christopher also acknowledged that the smoking ban may lead to increased instances of violence at the prison.

He said that in other jurisdictions which have implemented smoking bans, “there have been instances of aggravation occurring which has been taken out on other prisoners and correctional officers”.

“It’s an issue which the members and the PSA are aware of.

“(However) part of the reason for the phase-in of the total ban is to allow for … various quit programs to be implemented, rather than going cold turkey immediately.”

Piccolo said the Department for Correctional Services already had a number of measures in place to limit staff and prisoners’ exposure to tobacco smoke.

“This includes a ban on smoking in all administration buildings, outbuildings, vehicles, garages and within four metres of doorways,” he said.

“(The smoking ban) is the next significant step to reduce smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke in South Australian prisons.”

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