Australian Capital Territory
Corrections Management (PDC: Building Security) Policy 2011
Notifiable instrument NI2011-420
made under the  
Corrections Management Act 2007, section 14(1) (Corrections policies and operating procedures) 

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Corrections Management (PDC: Building Security) Policy 2011.
2	Commencement
This instrument commences on the day after it is notified.
3	Policy
I make the
PDC: building security policy
attached to this instrument, to facilitate the effective and efficient management of correctional services.

Bernadette Mitcherson
Executive Director 
ACT Corrective Services
18 July 2011

Periodic Detention Centre: 

Building Security Policy

Purpose
Authority
Legislation
Policy
Principles
Visitors to the PDC
Denial of access
Access to the Internal Secure area at the PDC
Approved visitors
Tradespersons
Access to the Control Room
Forms/Templates
Related policies and procedures
Version Control

Purpose
To outline the policy regarding building security at the Periodic Detention Centre (PDC). 

Authority
Legislation
Corrections Management Act 2007, section 14
Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005, chapter 5

Policy
Principles 
Entry into the PDC shall be subject to approval of the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent or the CO3.  Access will be limited to those persons with a legitimate need to enter the PDC. 

Visitors to the PDC
A corrections officer must register all persons entering the PDC in the Visitors Register including Community Based Corrections and Justice Health Services staff who are based within the Symonston Correctional Centre (SCC). This is to ensure a register or all persons inside the PDC is accessible in case of an emergency or incident (for example fire). 

Denial of access 
The Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent or CO3 may refuse any person entry to the PDC for visiting or other purposes, where it is believed that:
•	the person does not have a legitimate reason to enter the facility;
•	the entry of that person may be prejudicial to the safety and wellbeing of that person, any detainee or other person; or
•	the entry of that person may be prejudicial to the safe, secure and effective operation of the facility.

An Officer’s Report will need to be completed each time a person is refused entry into the PDC. This report will detail the circumstances surrounding the refusal.

Access to the Internal Secure area at the PDC
Access to the Internal Secure area of the PDC is restricted to corrections officers on duty, approved visitors (while in the company of a corrections officer) and persons approved by the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent or the CO3.

Approved visitors
Approved visitors are those persons who have been assigned a special status due to the nature and function of the position held.

Persons eligible for approved visitor status include:
•	the Official Visitor;
•	Ministers of religion;
•	the Salvation Army; 
•	welfare workers from relevant community agencies;
•	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support workers; and
•	other people who may have reason to make regular visits to the PDC.

Approved visitors accessing the PDC must be accompanied by a corrections officer.

A person wishing to be recognised as an approved visitor must make a written application to the Superintendent. The application must include the applicants name, date of birth, and function of the organisation sponsoring the application.

All approved visitors must undergo a police background check. Any costs associated with this will be met by ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS).

Once an application to be an approved visitor is approved, the applicant will be photographed and that photograph will be affixed to a record card that will be stored in the Control Room.

A person approved as an Approved Visitor at the PDC will be considered as an approved visitor at all correctional centres (except CTU) unless otherwise directed by the Superintendent.

Tradespersons
Contractors and tradespersons (other than ACTCS maintenance officers) working at the PDC must be in the company of an ACTCS employee at all times.  This may be a corrections officer or a maintenance officer.

All tools entering the PDC must be entered into the Tool Register before entering the PDC and must be accounted for in the Tools Register before the contractor, tradesperson, or maintenance officer leaves the PDC.

Access to the Control Room
In accordance with the PDC Access to Control Room Policy, access to the Control Room is limited to those corrections officers who are based in that area.

The Deputy Superintendent or the CO3 may grant access to the Control Room to approved visitors where there is an operational reason for their access.

The Superintendent may grant access to the Control Room to other persons including members of the public, such as media representatives.

Persons who have been granted access to the Control Room will be required to enter the room for only a brief period and will ensure that their access is as unobtrusive as possible.

The Deputy Superintendent will strictly monitor persons who have been granted access to the Control Room.

Detainees and ex-detainees will not under any circumstances have access to the Control Room.

Forms/Templates
Visitors Register
Tool Register

Related policies and procedures
PDC Access to Control Room Policy 
PDC Management of Tools Policy
PDC Incident Reporting Policy
PDC Incident Reporting Procedure

Version Control
Owner: 			Correctional Officer Grade 4 (CO4), Periodic Detention Centre
Document Location:	http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/current/c.asp
Review Cycle:	This policy should be reviewed every 24 months or when associated ACTCS policies or procedures are amended. 

Amendment History	
Version no. 	Issue date	Amendment details	Author	Approval	
1.0	July 2011	Initial policy	Governance  Unit, ACTCS	Executive Director, ACTCS