[Onthebarricades] NEW ZEALAND: Uprising at youth prison

[Andy]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4076108a11.html

Police grill 14 jail riot suspects 
By EMILY WATT and NZPA - The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 29 May 2007

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Police are interviewing 14 suspects involved in the five-hour riot at Rimutaka Prison's youth wing but say it will be several days before charges are laid. 


Some inmates took over part of the youth unit on Saturday, saying they had a hostage, smashing property and getting on the roof. 

A specialist riot squad regained control. 

The Corrections Department says the inmates could face charges including behaving in an offensive, threatening or abusive manner, deliberately damaging property, or obstructing an officer doing his or her duties. 

Prison Services acting assistant general manager Susan Provan said the outcome of the police investigation would be awaited before it considered laying charges. 

Upper Hutt acting police area commander Pete McKay said the investigation was in its early stages. 

"It's a moderately big investigation. There are anything up to 20 potential offenders and a substantial number of Corrections staff to interview." 

An independent review by the Prisons Inspectorate will look at practices at the youth unit and compare it with others in New Zealand. 

It should take two to three weeks. 

Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon has joined NZ First MP Ron Mark's call for prison staff to be equipped with stab-proof vests and Taser stun guns. 

"Police have handcuffs, batons, pepper spray and stab-proof vests to keep them safe from the people they may come into contact with," he said. 

"Corrections officers ... only have a cotton uniform. Yet every day on every shift officers are expected to walk amongst the very people that the police may come across." 

Staff should also be trained in de-escalation techniques. 

New Zealand's jails were becoming more violent with "stabbings, riots, serious beatings and murders". 

Meanwhile, prison unit managers will strike from June 7 over a claimed salary cut of $4500 a year. 
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