Prison staff injured in Risdon riot

FIVE staff members from Risdon Prison have been taken to hospital after a violent incident in the maximum security section of the complex.

The incident — apparently sparked by “inhumane overcrowded conditions”, according to a prisoners’ advocate — broke out yesterday morning.

“Police were called to the prison about 10 o’clock this morning after four alleged offenders assaulted a number of staff members,” a Tasmania Police spokesman said.

Five people — all Tasmanian Prison Service staff members — were taken to hospital as a precaution, two with minor injuries.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said the inci- dent had been initiated by a non-compliant prisoner.

“The incident was quickly resolved and the prison has returned to normal operations,” she said.

But Prisoners Legal Service chairman Greg Barns said the service had warned the Hodgman Government for months that the “inhumane overcrowded conditions would lead to violence”.

“Sadly the Government has refused to listen,” Mr Barns said.

“Prisoners in maximum security are being kept in their cells for 21 to 23 hours a day. This is a breach of international human rights law.

“Staff are being put at risk because of overcrowding.

“The Hodgman Government’s refusal to utilise bail hostels and electronic monitoring so that courts could allow people to be admitted to bail, rather than remand, has caused serious problems in the prison system — it has lead to overcrowding.

“We do not condone violence in the prison on the part of prisoners or staff, but the fault lies with the Hodgman Government and its expensive and counter-productive law and order policies.”

Investigations into the incident are continuing.

The Government comment.

Greg Barns

did not