Canberra prison guards had not been trained to use gas that could have ended unrest, union says
ABCStaff at Canberra's jail were powerless to stop unrest among prisoners this week because they had not been trained to use tear gas, according to the union representing prison guards. Key points: Guards at Canberra's jail have not been trained in how to use tear gas since 2015, the CPSU say Since Tuesday's unrest at the jail, two more fires have been lit The CPSU say the guards are powerless, and morale is low The Community and Public Sector Union has also claimed guards at the Alexander Maconochie Centre are overworked, understaffed and inadequately trained, leaving them unable to quell rising tensions in the prison. CPSU regional secretary Maddy Northam said guards were unable to contain the situation as they had not been trained in how to use tear gas since 2015. The directorate said it was working on further training for staff in the use of tear gas, adding Tuesday night's incident did not require the use of "chemical aids".
History of this topic
NT detention centre's use of tear gas on teens 'institutionalised brutality', Amnesty International says
ABCDiscover Related