Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre

Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre

Entrance to the Silverwater Correctional Complex, which includes the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre
Location Silverwater, New South Wales
Status Operational
Security class Maximum (Male)
Capacity 900
Opened 1997
Managed by Corrective Services NSW

The Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre is an Australian prison located in Silverwater, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Sydney's CBD, Australia. The prison opened in 1997, and has a capacity of 900 inmates. It is the largest single correctional centre in Australia. The majority of inmates are unconvicted or unsentenced.

History

In March, 1999, librarian Lucy Dudko hired a helicopter supposedly to check out the upcoming Olympic site in Sydney. Using a gun, she forced pilot, Tim Joyce, to land within the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre grounds. The Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre was at that time located within the Long Bay Prison Complex, the Silverwater site still being under construction. Waiting was John Killick, who was serving 28 years for armed robberies. He jumped in the helicopter making an escape while being fired on by guards and cheered on by inmates.[1] They landed in a park where Killick hijacked a taxi at gunpoint. The two were able to elude authorities for six weeks before being arrested at the Bass Hill Tourist Park.[1]

In 2004, the Independent Commission Against Corruption conducted an investigation at the prison which concluded that mobile phones were becoming a significant security threat in Australian correctional facilities.[2]

In April 2012, the facility was inundated with members of outlaw motorcycle clubs. Segregation between members of the same gangs is enforced in an effort to break member ties.[3]

Notable prisoners

See also

References

  1. 1 2 AAP (9 May 2006). "Mastermind of helicopter jailbreak freed early". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Abby Dinham (3 September 2004). "Mobile phone threat in Australian correctional facilities". ZDNet (CBS Interactive). Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Linda Silmalis (22 April 2012). "These cells at Silverwater jail are for drive-by shooters". The Sunday Telegraph (News Limited). Retrieved 10 October 2012.

External links

Coordinates: 33°49′51.5″S 151°3′27.6″E / 33.830972°S 151.057667°E / -33.830972; 151.057667


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 08, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.