THE Melbourne immigration detention centre, which holds killers, drug dealers and failed asylum seekers, has had 25 escapees in three years. Seventeen fugitives, including drug dealers, are still on the run.
Most were on overstayed or cancelled visas, and are awaiting deportation.
The revolving door at Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre has forced three internal security reviews that recommended significant changes.
Now, red-faced services provider Serco is scrambling to extend electric fences and add what immigration department officials describe as "additional anti-climb measures".
One source said changes to "soften" the centre's image after 2005, which eventually led to an electric fence replacing razor wire, meant easier escape routes.
The source said the centre was not a prison but Serco had not given staff what was needed to manage trouble-makers or felons.
"Some of these people are hard-edged. We are not talking about boat people, we are talking about people who have been in jail," the source said.
Last week the Herald Sun revealed two Vietnamese nationals who had served sentences for drug-related offences had fled the centre through the electric fence.
An Immigration Department spokesman said security improvements were under way.
After escapes between November 2010 and last January, Serco had conducted its own security review, he said.
It was followed by an outside company's assessment, and a third review by another outside company.
The spokesman said a decision was made in November to upgrade the fence, including installing another layer with a special material that makes it difficult to climb, which should be in place next month.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said escapes were investigated by the Immigration Department but local police assisted.
Details are also logged on police databases, so if fugitives are picked up for other crimes or inquiries they can be identified by police.
"There is an offence for detainees escaping under the Immigration Act and members of Victoria Police have power of arrest under this act," she said.
heraldsun.com.au 20 Jan 2012
The government is importing criminals into Australia at an astonishing rate.
The crime figures have been fraudulently represented by Victoria's previous police commissioner Simon Overland, as a result his position was vacated.
In a cost cutting measure, the government is deliberately putting the community at risk with the escape of these criminals.
Many 'trailer park trash' migrants have established criminal networks of which the government is fully aware of, and monitors, but does nothing.
Corrupt officials are on the payroll of many well established drug syndicates.
The ATO (Australian Tax Office) is fully aware of the illegal possesion of fund obtained from criminal activites, BUT instead plans to legalise the crimes by TAXING them.
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