ACT police investigate allegation Bimberi Youth Justice Centre detainee assaulted by staff member

ABC NEWS (Australia)

ACT Policing says it has received a complaint of assault against a detainee at the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre in Canberra by an employee. The allegation comes after the ACT Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People says she was refused access to the centre. Police say no further information can be provided on the investigation while it is ongoing.

Transcript

00:00In a response to questions from the ABC, ACT Policing has confirmed that it received a

00:07detainee's complaint last week and that it related to an alleged incident late last year.

00:13Yesterday, the Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children said that

00:17she'd been refused access to the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre.

00:20Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts says she attempted to access the centre to meet with young people

00:25to talk about concerns about the use of physical force within the centre.

00:29It's unacceptable that my office has been informed of issues and concerns inside the

00:35Bimberi Youth Prison and have now been denied our access, which is within our legislation,

00:41to attend and maintain our oversight powers.

00:44In response, the ACT Community Services Directorate said it cannot comment on the allegation itself

00:49or the status of the staff member related to the alleged assault, as both are the subject

00:55of an active police investigation.

00:57The Director-General of Community Services says that office holders such as Commissioner

01:01Turnbull-Roberts can enter the Bimberi Centre for an hour every day in the afternoon, but

01:06beyond that, appointments are required.

01:09I do think it's reasonable because I have an obligation to ensure that we can manage

01:13all of the operational and safety and security needs of the centre, both for people who might

01:19visit, for staff, and my primary concern is for the young people in the centre.

01:24The Director-General said that these types of allegations come up from time to time,

01:28but there had not been any allegations of assault on young people this year.

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