A new report has raised concerns about rising violence inside the ACT’s prison, with calls for systemic changes to reduce the risk of assaults.

The ACT Inspector of Custodial Services, Rebecca Minty, has made a series of recommendations to ACT Corrective Services following a review of three assaults at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

The findings are contained in a report tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly, examining incidents over the past 12 months involving detainees assaulting other detainees.

Ms Minty said all three assaults occurred inside cells, with staff unaware of the incidents for several minutes.

“The three assaults that we reviewed all took place inside cells, with staff apparently unaware of the assaults for several minutes, until the injuries were brought to their attention,” Ms Minty said.

She said corrections officers and Canberra Health Services staff responded professionally to treat injured detainees, but warned the broader trend was concerning.

“Nonetheless, I am concerned about rising level of violence in the prison and recommend ACTCS take further action to respond to this,” she said.

Two of the incidents occurred during the day, when detainees were able to move freely between cells, including entering other detainees’ rooms without restriction.

The report notes this practice, combined with areas not covered by CCTV, creates a heightened risk of assault.

Ms Minty acknowledged ongoing population pressures at the facility, saying overcrowding and design limitations were complicating operations.

“I appreciate that corrections are facing sustained population pressures at AMC – something they have no control over,” she said.

“Nonetheless, the increasing numbers of detained people being assaulted, including those who have been categorised as requiring specific protection, is very concerning.”

The review makes six findings and four recommendations, including enforcing existing rules that restrict detainees from entering others’ cells during the day.

It also highlights the need for more structured activities, programs and recreation outside cells, which have been shown to reduce violence.

The report further found shortcomings in crime scene and evidence preservation procedures, recommending improvements to staff practices — an issue previously raised in earlier reviews.

Ms Minty said while the recommendations may reduce risks in the short term, longer-term solutions would require addressing capacity pressures within the prison system.

The ACT Government is expected to formally respond to the report through the Corrections Minister.