Western Australia's only juvenile detention centre, Banksia Hill, is facing a severe crisis, according to a new report. 

The review by Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan, =based on a visit to the facility in February, highlighted numerous issues including suicidal youth detainees, demoralised staff, and poor living conditions. 

The inspection took place before riots last month that caused significant damage to the facility. 

Ongoing lockdowns and staff shortages have created a hostile environment, with regular assaults on staff and incidents of riotous behaviour.

The report revealed that staff shortages contributed to a cycle of isolation, frustration, and violence among detainees. 

The living conditions at Banksia Hill were found to be deplorable, with bags of rubbish, soiled clothes, and rat faeces throughout the centre. These conditions pose significant health risks to both staff and detainees. 

Ryan described the situation as an “emergency” and called for immediate measures to address the crisis.

The report also highlighted the impact of lockdowns on the mental health of the detainees, with a survey conducted prior to the inspection revealing that lockdowns led some detainees to have thoughts of self-harm and suicide. 

The staff at Banksia Hill were also found to be demoralised and suffering from stress, trauma, and compassion fatigue. The severe staff shortage has made it challenging to provide proper care and support to the young detainees.

To address the immediate crisis, the report made ten recommendations, including the construction of a second youth detention centre and urgent measures to address staff support and retention issues. 

The Department of Justice has supported most of the recommendations but rejected the suggestion to examine alternative options for the location of the Crisis Care Unit. The report comes after a major riot at Banksia Hill last month, which further exacerbated the issues faced by the facility.

The report also highlighted the need for a new staffing model and a trauma-informed approach to address the complex mix of detainees at Banksia Hill, including establishment of a separate remand centre and a new youth care role to support the detainees.

Additionally, the Department of Justice has agreed to review the “safe exit technique” used to remove detainees from their cells after concerns were raised about its effectiveness. The department acknowledged the difficulties faced in running a full program for the detainees due to staffing issues and the impact of critical incidents on staff and service provision.

The report has drawn attention to the long-standing issues at Banksia Hill, including unsafe work practices, staff shortages, and the inadequate facilities for providing a rehabilitative environment. 

The Community and Public Sector Union has criticised the department for intimidating and bullying staff who spoke out about the conditions inside the detention facilities.

In response to the report, Western Australia's Premier, Roger Cook, acknowledged the need for improvements in the facility and expressed a commitment to address the issues.