Prisons Advocate filed suit against the Victorian Commissioner of Police (Christen Nixon) on behalf of a prisoner housed in police cells for 60 days. Police cells are designed for short term housing of prisoners awaiting tansfer. The Prisoner, who has diagnosed mental diabilities, was housed in a cell in which the light were never turned off, depriving the prisoner of sleep and causing considerable distress.

Police claimed that this was a security requirement.

PALS has sought an injunction that the lights be turned off or the prisoner transferred.

Solicitors representing the Police Commission requested a 2 day adjournment of the case after the action was filed and received wide media attention. The prisoner was moved the next day.

While this is a victory for the prisoner concerned, over 170 other prisoners are housed in similar circumstances. The police commissioners solicitors revealed that this prisoner was "down the list" because other prisoners has been held for a longer period that our client! It shows that this form of abuse and neglect of prisoners is not limited to the "third world". If you're looking for abuse, look too in the first world back yard.

Prisoners Advocate was invited to discuss monitoring of police cell conditions with the police commissioner. PALS has threatened class action against the commissioner unless measurable improvements are made.

Our thanks to FPSS for the (often thankless) work it does worldwide in support of all prisoners.

Peter Monagle
Supervising Solicitor
Prisoners Advocate Legal Service Limited