The Prison Officers Vocational Branch (POVB) acknowledges recent media reports referring to the NSW Police Force as a “prisoner taxi service” and asserting  inmate transportation responsibilities should lie with Correctional Officers.

The PSA and POVB  recognise the challenges faced by NSW Police, including the strain of limited resources. However, as your union, we feel it is vital to reaffirm that, under the Bail Act, legal custody remains with the NSW Police until individuals are formally transferred into the correctional system.

Our members are aware correctional locations across NSW continue to operate under acute pressure due to chronic daily staffing shortages and mounting safety risks. We know you are being pushed to your limits, resulting in dangerously unsustainable workloads and an unprecedented rise in mental health concerns across the workforce. Morale is at an all-time low.

Like the Police, Prison Officers have reached breaking point. We are overworked, burnt out, and deeply concerned about the ongoing core issues in recruitment, retention and operational support for our members.

We are sick and tired of constant policy changes which negatively affect daily operations and frontline procedures. Multiple organisations outside of corrections are now dictating how we operate. These same organisations are seemingly more concerned about the inmate welfare rather than victims of the offence perpetrated by the inmates. The safety of our members is being eroded because inmates are being empowered by the interference of these outside organisations.

Despite these conditions, the POVB remains committed to constructive collaboration with NSW Police and the broader justice system. We are open to exploring reforms, including the assumption of responsibilities for managing Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities and providing custody services in all Police Charge Rooms across the state.

Such a model would require changes to responsibilities and funding. Any changes would require Correctional Officers to oversee custody operations from the point of arrest through to transport and court appearances. However, these changes are entirely contingent upon the urgent and sustained provision of adequate resources: increased staffing, appropriate funding, and access to essential equipment. Without these, such responsibilities cannot be safely or effectively assumed.

The PSA and POVB call on the NSW Government to act with urgency, commitment, and investment to support both Correctional and Police Services and to address this crisis before more serious consequences arise.

Yours in union,
David Bartle
Industrial Manager
Public Service Association of NSW