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Canberra’s jail remains in lockdown and police are on standby to enter the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Wednesday to investigate following a violent overnight disturbance. The incident began about 7pm on Tuesday and is understood to have occurred in the north wing of the jail. The incident continued for several hours, with fires lit inside cells and prison property, including CCTV cameras, damaged. It is not known at this time how many prisoners were involved in the fracas at the prision. Fears were held for the safety of attending firefighters because it was not known whether the prisoners who caused the disturbance were armed with makeshift weapons. It is understood that ACT Corrections had to ensure firefighters had secure access and would not be attacked before they could be admitted to the jail’s north wing and ensure the fires were out. On Wednesday morning, a spokesman for the Justice and Community Safety directorate said that the situation at the jail was now “contained and under control”. However, it is understood that a number of cells are now damaged and uninhabitable as a result of the fire damage from the disturbance. ACT Corrections staff are now working on a revised accommodation plan for the displaced prisoners. Police will not be able to access the damaged area of the jail, investigate and question staff and detainees until Corrections have made it fully secure and reassigned prisoners to their new cells. This is expected to happen within the next 24 to 36 hours. The new Minister for Corrections, Mick Gentleman, who was assigned to the portfolio after the previous minister, from Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, was elevated to ACT Attorney General, will receive an urgent briefing on the incident from the Director of Corrections, Jon Peach, at the earliest opportunity on Wednesday. Tensions have been building at the jail for a length period due to persistent overcrowding and a long period in which prisoners were unable to receive visitors. The visitor restrictions have eased, but not completely. MORE TO COME
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Canberra’s jail remains in lockdown and police are on standby to enter the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Wednesday to investigate following a violent overnight disturbance.
The incident began about 7pm on Tuesday and is understood to have occurred in the north wing of the jail.
The incident continued for several hours, with fires lit inside cells and prison property, including CCTV cameras, damaged.
It is not known at this time how many prisoners were involved in the fracas at the prision.
Fears were held for the safety of attending firefighters because it was not known whether the prisoners who caused the disturbance were armed with makeshift weapons.
It is understood that ACT Corrections had to ensure firefighters had secure access and would not be attacked before they could be admitted to the jail’s north wing and ensure the fires were out.
On Wednesday morning, a spokesman for the Justice and Community Safety directorate said that the situation at the jail was now “contained and under control”.
However, it is understood that a number of cells are now damaged and uninhabitable as a result of the fire damage from the disturbance.
ACT Corrections staff are now working on a revised accommodation plan for the displaced prisoners.
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MORE GALLERIES
Police will not be able to access the damaged area of the jail, investigate and question staff and detainees until Corrections have made it fully secure and reassigned prisoners to their new cells. This is expected to happen within the next 24 to 36 hours.
The new Minister for Corrections, Mick Gentleman, who was assigned to the portfolio after the previous minister, from Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, was elevated to ACT Attorney General, will receive an urgent briefing on the incident from the Director of Corrections, Jon Peach, at the earliest opportunity on Wednesday.
Tensions have been building at the jail for a length period due to persistent overcrowding and a long period in which prisoners were unable to receive visitors. The visitor restrictions have eased, but not completely.
