Pubdate: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 Source: Hobart Mercury (Australia) Page: 5 Copyright: News Limited 1998 Contact: http://www.themercury.com.au/ Author: Steven Dally, Chief Political Reporter CASH BONUS PLAN TO DOB ON INMATES AN elite Risdon Prison intelligence unit is being trained to ferret out drug smuggling, escape bids and potentially violent disputes. The unit could also run a "dob-in-an-inmate" hotline for crimes inside and outside the prison walls, with possible cash rewards for information. But Attorney-General Peter Patmore has ruled out offering sentence reductions as a reward for information. Mr Patmore also quashed any suggestion the unit would run undercover operations in the prison but said listening devices could be used in approved circumstances. But Opposition legal spokesman Ray Groom said a hotline would lead to more prison bashings as informants were identified. Two prison officers have received special intelligence training for the role. Mr Patmore said the telephone hotline was on option but told the committee there was a moral dilemma over cash rewards. "There is a moral issue to paying prisoners for information but the corollary is they will not do so unless you pay," he said. The revelations came with Mr Patmore telling a Budget estimates hearing yesterday that Risdon was a 1940s American-designed structure transplanted to Tasmanian in the 1960s with major structural problems. He also said the high number of inmates, 350 now in Risdon compared to the traditional average of 270, was another problem. Mr Patmore told the committee: He would investigate public and private prisons in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. He was committed to prisons remaining in public hands. Electronic and home detention schemes in SA would be examined. Prison escort guards would not be armed because of the increased likelihood escapes could become shoot-outs putting guards at risk. $20,000 was being spent upgrading Risdon's 62 security cameras. - --- Checked-by: Patrick Henry