The American private prison company running Australia\u2019s onshore immigration detention system has ordered that all detainees be handcuffed while travelling \u2013 regardless of whether they pose a risk \u2013 after a string of security lapses.<\/p>\n
More than a dozen escapes or attempted escapes<\/a> have taken place since the Management and Training Corporation (MTC) began operating the immigration detention centres last March, having won a $2.3bn contract with the Department of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n Internal documents seen by Guardian Australia reveal MTC executives told staff on Saturday they must now handcuff all detainees during escorts. That applies to detainees who pose a low risk, with only those with a medical reason to be spared.<\/p>\n \u201cI am emailing to further instruct that the following occurs, effective immediately: mandatory restraints must be used for all T&E [transport and escort] tasks, unless medically contraindicated,\u201d the document reads.<\/p>\n That includes using handcuffs for \u201call low and medium risk tasks\u201d.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n MTC has also ordered that at least four staff be present for detainee travel, excluding a driver, for higher-risk escorts. That is up from the three staff previously required.<\/p>\n The directive could add pressure on already \u201ccritically\u201d understaffed detention facilities, which have been the subject of ongoing scrutiny<\/a> by the detention watchdog, unions and departmental staff.<\/p>\n It comes after a detainee allegedly started a fire at an unmanned demountable staff compound at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre last week.<\/p>\n The detainee has since been charged and appeared before the Bankstown local court. An initial mental health report read in court said the detainee presented as someone with symptoms of mental illness, and had recently been admitted to hospital, but was discharged.<\/p>\n A departmental source told Guardian Australia the detainee had previously displayed behavioural concerns and had been flagged for enhanced monitoring at the time of the incident.<\/p>\n Despite this, no staff were present in the compound where the fire was lit.<\/p>\n The source said the department was concerned the compound may have been left vacant for several hours before the fire.<\/p>\n The fire came in the same week that a detainee at Villawood allegedly managed to escape during an escort to a hospital on Wednesday.<\/p>\n