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| Serco-run prison asks inmates to donate for national poverty week | Serco-run prison asks inmates to donate for national poverty week |
| (4 months later) | |
| Critics call film night fundraiser ‘tone deaf’ after multinational confirms its sole contribution to national poverty week | |
| Christopher Knaus | |
| Fri 13 Oct 2017 22.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Fri 13 Oct 2017 23.20 BST | |
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| Multinational outsourcing giant Serco has asked inmates at one of its private prisons to donate money for national poverty week, a move critics have labelled “tone deaf”. | Multinational outsourcing giant Serco has asked inmates at one of its private prisons to donate money for national poverty week, a move critics have labelled “tone deaf”. |
| Serco, which posted a global £82.1m ($139m) profit in 2016, is hosting a movie night at Acacia prison in Western Australia, as its sole contribution to national poverty week next week. | Serco, which posted a global £82.1m ($139m) profit in 2016, is hosting a movie night at Acacia prison in Western Australia, as its sole contribution to national poverty week next week. |
| Inmates are asked to make a gold coin donation to participate, because “it is important for people who have committed crimes against society to have the opportunity to give something back”. | Inmates are asked to make a gold coin donation to participate, because “it is important for people who have committed crimes against society to have the opportunity to give something back”. |
| Serco said the event was the idea of inmates, and was being run by its non-government partner, rehabilitation provider Outcare. | Serco said the event was the idea of inmates, and was being run by its non-government partner, rehabilitation provider Outcare. |
| The company said the event was part of efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners through a “responsible prisoner” model, which encourages inmates to make positive choices and plan their post-release future. | The company said the event was part of efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners through a “responsible prisoner” model, which encourages inmates to make positive choices and plan their post-release future. |
| “These events are chosen by prisoners themselves who, with our NGO partners, then plan, arrange and run the events. Our staff provide outstanding support and make their own contributions,” a spokesman for the company said. | “These events are chosen by prisoners themselves who, with our NGO partners, then plan, arrange and run the events. Our staff provide outstanding support and make their own contributions,” a spokesman for the company said. |
| But critics have criticised Serco’s approach to national poverty week as a “tone deaf, hypocritical exercise that does nothing to help people in real poverty”. | But critics have criticised Serco’s approach to national poverty week as a “tone deaf, hypocritical exercise that does nothing to help people in real poverty”. |
| The Anti-Poverty Network of South Australia said most inmates were typically in poverty themselves. | The Anti-Poverty Network of South Australia said most inmates were typically in poverty themselves. |
| “It beggars belief that a multibillion-dollar company like Serco that has made its money from human rights abuses would think it appropriate to demand money from prisoners on anti-poverty week,” its spokeswoman, Nijole Naujokas, said. | “It beggars belief that a multibillion-dollar company like Serco that has made its money from human rights abuses would think it appropriate to demand money from prisoners on anti-poverty week,” its spokeswoman, Nijole Naujokas, said. |
| “Most prisoners are in poverty themselves and many times a lack of financial resources contributes to the decision to commit certain crimes and subsequent recidivism.” | “Most prisoners are in poverty themselves and many times a lack of financial resources contributes to the decision to commit certain crimes and subsequent recidivism.” |
| The Acacia prison runs another charity program to support local groups, which relies on a prisoner-led reparation committee. | The Acacia prison runs another charity program to support local groups, which relies on a prisoner-led reparation committee. |
| This year, the committee identified homelessness, at-risk youth, and domestic violence as its areas of focus. It expects to make a $30,000 commitment of “direct sponsorship, time, and materials” to six groups working in the area. | This year, the committee identified homelessness, at-risk youth, and domestic violence as its areas of focus. It expects to make a $30,000 commitment of “direct sponsorship, time, and materials” to six groups working in the area. |
| Serco’s operation of the Acacia facility was scrutinised late last year as part of a broader report by the state’s inspector of custodial services, Neil Morgan. | Serco’s operation of the Acacia facility was scrutinised late last year as part of a broader report by the state’s inspector of custodial services, Neil Morgan. |
| The prison held about 1,468 prisoners, but just 36.5% of beds were found to be compliant with Australasian guidelines, the report said. | The prison held about 1,468 prisoners, but just 36.5% of beds were found to be compliant with Australasian guidelines, the report said. |
| Double bunking had caused crowding in many units, the report said. | Double bunking had caused crowding in many units, the report said. |
| Many services were found to be insufficient, including dental and mental health support and the access to the oval and gymnasium was restricted. | Many services were found to be insufficient, including dental and mental health support and the access to the oval and gymnasium was restricted. |
| Naujokas said Serco should spend more of its own money “making prisoners lives and detention centres more comfortable, rather than cutting corners”. | Naujokas said Serco should spend more of its own money “making prisoners lives and detention centres more comfortable, rather than cutting corners”. |
| Serco – a behemoth consultancy that provides a broad range of services for governments and corporations worldwide – found itself in the spotlight this week after the federal government announced it would help run Centrelink’s troubled call centre. | Serco – a behemoth consultancy that provides a broad range of services for governments and corporations worldwide – found itself in the spotlight this week after the federal government announced it would help run Centrelink’s troubled call centre. |
| Under the deal 250 staff from a Serco subsidiary will join the call centre in a bid to improve performance and waiting times. | Under the deal 250 staff from a Serco subsidiary will join the call centre in a bid to improve performance and waiting times. |
| Labor, the Greens, and the main public sector union all voiced opposition to the privatisation of a critical public service. | Labor, the Greens, and the main public sector union all voiced opposition to the privatisation of a critical public service. |
| Serco has run Australia’s onshore immigration detention centres since 2009, and operates private prisons at Acacia, the Wandoo reintegration facility, and the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre. | Serco has run Australia’s onshore immigration detention centres since 2009, and operates private prisons at Acacia, the Wandoo reintegration facility, and the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre. |
| It is also part of a consortium that will build and operate a 1,700 bed prison near Grafton, in New South Wales, expected to be Australia’s largest correctional centre. | It is also part of a consortium that will build and operate a 1,700 bed prison near Grafton, in New South Wales, expected to be Australia’s largest correctional centre. |
| The Anti-Poverty Network is holding its conference next week, which it said was the only event of its kind organised by low-income people, for low-income people. | The Anti-Poverty Network is holding its conference next week, which it said was the only event of its kind organised by low-income people, for low-income people. |
| Prisons | |
| Poverty | |
| Social exclusion | |
| Western Australia | |
| Serco | |
| news | |
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