VIC: Overcrowding fears started prison blow up

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-1999
VIC: Overcrowding fears started prison blow up

The head of Victoria's jail system says speculation about overcrowding led to a riot in a
privately-run Fulham prison in eastern Victoria last night.

Victorian Corrections Commissioner PENNY ARMYTAGE says the stand-off began at 9.30 pm
(AEST) when prisoners in two units of the 600-inmate jail refused to return to their cells.

She says only one unit later returned to their cells, prompting up to 65 prison guards to
move in with tear gas against the 30 remaining renegades, forcing them into their cells.

Ms ARMYTAGE says all prisoners were in their cells within 40 minutes of the gas being
released, with no-one seriously injured although several prisoners had scratches.

Management at the privately-owned jail had been planning to introduce 10 extra prisoners a
week for the next six weeks to help cure overcrowding at police lock-ups.

But Ms ARMYTAGE blamed the media and prison officers for spreading unfounded information
about the move, causing some inmates to over-react and cause the riot.

At the moment Victoria has 2,955 prisoners in jails.

AAP RTV ra/rt

KEYWORD: FULHAM COMMISSIONER (MELBOURNE)

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