Casuarina Prison: Group of inmates ‘damage cells in two wings and cause flooding’ as officer ‘injured’

A major disturbance involving multiple inmates has unfolded at WA’s maximum security prison with reports of widespread damage to cells and “considerable” flooding. WA prison officers union secretary Andy Smith said a riot broke out inside Unit 1 at Casuarina Prison around 11am on Thursday and special operations group officers had to be called in to help quell the situation. Mr Smith said there was “considerable water damage and damage to cells”. “Two wings have been trashed,” he said. The union said one prison officer reportedly suffered a minor eye injury. Mr Smith said the riot was being treated as a “major incident” by the union, claiming the prison was “drastically short staffed” on Thursday. “Today was probably one of those worse days we’ve had in years,” he said. Mr Smith estimated there were as many as 60 inmates spread across the two wings damaged — A and B — inside Unit 1. The Department of Justice said initial reports showed about seven inmates were behind the ordeal. “Officers from the Special Operations Group and Prison Response Team resolved the incident, securing all prisoners in their cells,” the department said in a statement. “One officer sustained a minor injury. “Damage to the unit is being assessed. All cells in the unit are operational.” According to the Office of The Inspector of Custodial Services, Casuarina Prison this year had “consistently operated above capacity, with close to two thirds of the population on remand.” During an October 2025 inspection of the facility, 1675 prisoners were being housed at the facility. Five inmates were seen sleeping on the floor during the inspection.