The state opposition has pledged to trial the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, to improve security at Ararat’s prison.
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Liberal Ripon MP Louise Staley said the Coalition’s election promise would apply to Hopkins Correctional Centre outside Ararat.
The centre also includes Corella Place, a residential unit for sex offenders deemed too high of a risk for release, and the soon-to-be completed Rivergum ward for violent offenders.
Ms Staley said the drones were needed to monitor Ararat’s prison population, which was seeing a higher proportion of potentially violent inmates.
“We will do a trial, and Hopkins would be one of the trial sites, largely because it’s a country prison so you have a large open area and less flight restriction issues,” she said.
“Hopkins Correctional Centre how has a different prisoner profile, from which we are seeing that keeping an eye on people is more important.
“We are seeing an increase in violence against prison officers, and one of the reasons that drones are used is that when prisoners riot, the first thing they do is disable the internal CCTV.
“Having drones up would put eyes back on the prison.”
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Emergency services in Victoria, NSW and Queensland already use drones for surveying disaster zones and crime scenes.
Victoria Police has also started a trial of drones for more active roles in apprehending suspects.
Criminals have also started using drones to smuggle drugs, mobile phones and weapons over the top of prison walls.
In February, the state government banned civilian drone flying within 120 metres of corrections centre boundaries, including at Ararat, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
Ms Staley said surveillance drones would grant further assistance to the fight against contraband smuggling at Ararat prison.