Riot threat alert

PRISONERS threatened to riot at Darwin jail after complaining about overcrowding and the quality of food, it was learnt yesterday.

Fifteen officers donned full riot gear _ including arming themselves with large gas pumps _ as a group of inmates sat down on the ground and refused to go to a routine muster.

The three ringleaders were whisked away to a maximum security block after a tense two-hour stand-off.

One prison source said: ``There was no violence in the end but it was touch and go.

``Once a few of them get together you can have a monster.''

The prisoners are believed to have handed a letter of grievance to Darwin Correctional Centre.

Trouble started at the maximum security B and C blocks on Thursday morning.

Correctional Services director Jens Tolstrup said public safety was never threatened.

``The incident was not a major disturbance,'' he said.

``All the inmates dispersed willingly and voluntarily and without incident.

``There was no lock-down, no violence and the rest of the prison operated as normal.

``The three inmates involved have been moved from the block into other accommodation. This is standard practice for these situations.''

The source said it was ``very unusual'' for riot gear to be issued.

He said several of the prisoners had told officers they would ``take the blocks out'' _ a euphemism for a riot.

The source said the prison was overcrowded, adding: ``Everybody is hot at this time of the year and tempers fray.''

The source refused to name the ringleaders who are not serving life sentences.

He said they were well-known within the prison system but not outside.

Darwin and Alice Springs prisons each hold about 400 inmates each. Both are nearly full.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 29 October 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Nigel Adlam
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/