Prison union says facilities overcrowded

Albany prison remains overcrowded and operating at more than 20 per cent over its capacity, according to the WA Prison Officers' Union, which has criticised the State Government over the state of WA's prisons.

The union this week claimed State prisoner numbers hit a new record high and that prisons were bursting at the seams, with Albany Regional Prison housing 240 inmates last week in a facility designed for 196.

Union secretary John Welch said the Government had a right to be tough on crime, but it needed to build cells to accommodate the extra prisoners.

"What this Government is doing is trying to cram more and more prisoners into existing cells, which is leading to chronic overcrowding," he said.

"When prisons are overcrowded, prisoners are more likely to become violent and that is putting prison officers at greater and greater risk."

In February 2013, the union raised concerns that Albany prison was overcrowded and understaffed and claimed the issue had reached crisis point after a fight between about 20 inmates left three officers injured and one having to take time off work.

Mr Welch said regardless of the Government's spin, the design capacity of the prison was being exceeded.

"Albany is a maximum security prison and the overcrowding needs to be dealt with," he said.

"If the Government wants to pretend it is tough on law and order but doesn't do anything about the overcrowding, then you can see what their approach is."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrective Services said the prison's design capacity was no longer relevant, stating prisons have had ongoing upgrades, expansions, changes to configuration and beds added.

She said as of Tuesday there were 232 prisoners at Albany Regional Prison, which has a total capacity of 500 beds.

According to the union, prison numbers in WA had reached 5500 for the first time, with a Statewide prison capacity of 4500.

The department spokeswoman said the high numbers came during a surge of people in custody after the Easter holidays.

She said current prisoner numbers were consistent with forecast trends and every prisoner had a bed in a secure cell.