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WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains an image of a person who has died.
A damning report has revealed staff at a Perth detention centre were watching TV while a 16-year-old took his own life last month.
The internal probe into Cleveland Dodd's death details a lack of urgency from staff inside unit 18, the youth wing of a maximum security adult prison, including claims one staff member was asleep at the time.
"It appears staff were resting or watching movies at the time Cleveland self-harmed," Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia said.
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On the morning of October 12, Dodd used his cell's intercom to contact staff and tell them "I'm going to hang myself … tell [first name of youth custodial officer] to come here".
The control officer responded "alright, will do, mate".
Five seconds later, he called back and said "I'm going to hang myself".
The control officer responded, "Cleveland, don't be talking like that, [first name of youth custodial officer] is going to come and see you, I've just spoken to him, OK?"
Dodd responded with the same warning of self harm.
He was briefly checked on but the CCTV showed nothing because Dodd had covered the cell camera with toilet paper about 12 hours earlier.
Twenty minutes after the original call, a youth prisoner reported, "Cleveland's gonna kill himself, he's not talking back to me."
The control officer replied, "I can't hear you, what did you say?" before the youth prisoner said, "Cleveland's hanging in his cell".
The control officer then said he would "get someone up there to chat" before the prisoner said, "this is an emergency, bro".
Nine seconds later Dodd was found unresponsive and he died in hospital a week later.
"Cleveland should be alive today, the fact he is not is without question a devastating tragedy," Papalia said.
"Put simply, we let him down."
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Eighteen areas of concern have been outlined in the report into Dodd's death.
The report also questions the lack of urgency and points out the camera in the teenager's cell was covered for nearly 16 hours.
"It was a practice that had been accepted by staff because of their concern for privacy of detainees," Papalia said.
Shadow polcie and corrective services minister Peter Collier said the response would be "laughable if it wasn't so serious".
"Because the consequence of what happened is the loss of a life," Collier said.
In a statement Dodd's family said their loved one's memory must be one of changes that guarantee young lives are supported.
"Change is not delivered by words alone," the family said.
Incoming Commissioner Brad Royce said he wants the body cameras upgraded.
"Unit 18 is what it is until I get another facility," Royce said.
Papalia, who had praised staff, today had a change in tone.
"Individually, none of these things are acceptable," he said.
"Collectively, they are disturbing and confirm the need for significant cultural change."
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, beyond blue on 1300 22 4636 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
