Prisoners access body armour, power tools

HAMILTON: Rioting inmates at Waikeria Prison have gained access to power tools, tactical equipment including shields and body armour, and have built makeshift weapons to use against Corrections staff.

The protesting inmates have also accessed a medical dispensary where controlled drugs are stored and there are now fears for the structural integrity of the badly damaged prison building.

Sixteen men have been holed up in a highsecurity building since Tuesday, when they lit several fires to protest poor conditions.

The building has since been extensively damaged and the Department of Corrections said it was unlikely to be used again.

Corrections incident controller Jeanette Burns said the ‘‘prisoner disorder event’’ was continuing late yesterday.

Negotiations were continuing with 16 prisoners in the ‘‘top jail’’ facility, Ms Burns said.

She said the incident was contained within the facility’s secure perimeter and there was no threat to public safety.

‘‘While the group state that they are protesting conditions at the prison and not rioting, their actions are clearly violent.’’

On Thursday, the prisoners agreed with negotiators to surrender if they were able to speak with kaumatua. This was facilitated but did not resolve the situation, Ms Burns said.

Later in the day the prisoners committed to surrendering if they could speak with Maori Party MP Rawiri Waititi. This was also facilitated and did not resolve the situation.

‘‘We have negotiated in good faith, and prisoners have defaulted on the commitments that they have made,’’ she said.

Late on Thursday afternoon, one inmate surrendered after he was assaulted by the others, who tried to stop him leaving. — The New Zealand Herald