We accept there are challenges keeping contraband out of prisons. We routinely report on police operations that occur at the jail and intercept drugs and other banned goods carried by visitors. So, what happens when the police aren’t conducting these operations? After all, they can’t be there every day.

The Public Service Association was quick to leap on the back of the jail incident. A spokesman told ABC radio while jail staff had handled the incident well, overall jail staffing was an issue.

He said while the front end of the justice system – the police who apprehend the criminals – was well resourced, the back end (the jails that house criminals) needed to be adequately staffed. 

Corrective Services also commended its staff for the way the incident was handled. We have no reason to doubt this but do feel the communication from the department could have been a little more straightforward.

Shortly after arriving at the jail, the media was directed off the site, with very little communication about what was happening. One news organisation tweeted that some 300 prisoners had been affected by teargas. 

As the story unfolded we were fielding calls at the office from relatives concerned about loved ones locked up at the jail. 

Eventually, someone from the Rural Fire Service spoke to the media about what he understood to be happening inside.

When we finally had a statement from Corrective Services, it was almost three hours after the incident had started. 

Despite the considerable community opposition to its location in the Shoalhaven, the South Coast Correctional Centre is here to stay. It is generally a good corporate citizen.

However, when an incident such as Wednesday’s occurs, it is important the information about it flows quickly so it can be reported fairly and accurately.

It is also important that once the internal investigation of how and why the incident occurred – and how a fire was started – is completed, the community is kept informed.

That is a reasonable expectation.