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Prisoners riot at Melbourne's Ravenhall remand centre over smoking ban Prisoners riot at Melbourne's Ravenhall remand centre over smoking ban
(35 minutes later)
All staff were evacuated from the maximum security prison in Ravenhall, Victoria, on Tuesday after several hundred prisoners rioted.All staff were evacuated from the maximum security prison in Ravenhall, Victoria, on Tuesday after several hundred prisoners rioted.
The unrest began just before 12.30pm at the Metropolitan remand centre, in the outer western suburbs of Melbourne, a police spokeswoman said. The unrest began at 12.20pm at the Metropolitan remand centre, in the outer western suburbs of Melbourne, Corrections Victoria said, when prisoners breached an inner perimeter fence.
“Police are currently responding to a disturbance,” she said. “Staff have been evacuated as a precaution, and prison inmates remain contained within the grounds.” Parts of the prison were locked down and police secured the outer perimeter, it said in a statement. All staff were accounted for and there were no reports of staff injuries.
Police units were at the scene, including officers from the air wing, she said. A police spokeswoman said staff had been evacuated as a precaution and inmates were contained within the grounds. Police units were at the scene, including officers from the air wing, she said.
The Seven Network’s news helicopter filmed prisoners with their faces covered, carrying sticks and bashing doors.The Seven Network’s news helicopter filmed prisoners with their faces covered, carrying sticks and bashing doors.
About 300 prisoners were involved in the disturbance, the ABC reported.About 300 prisoners were involved in the disturbance, the ABC reported.
“Inmates are contained in the grounds,” a police spokeswoman told AAP.At least six fire trucks were at the prison after a fire alarm was triggered. Prisoners were reportedly lighting fires as they roamed the grounds. At least six fire trucks were at the prison after a fire alarm was triggered. Prisoners were reportedly lighting fires as they roamed the grounds, AAP reported.
Sources confirmed to Guardian Australia the riot was a reaction to the smoking ban being implemented in prisons across the state from Wednesday. It is understood the ban at Ravenhall was introduced on Tuesday.Sources confirmed to Guardian Australia the riot was a reaction to the smoking ban being implemented in prisons across the state from Wednesday. It is understood the ban at Ravenhall was introduced on Tuesday.
On Tuesday Victoria’s corrections commissioner, Jan Shuard, told ABC radio the prison system was “very ready” for the implementation of the ban. On Tuesday Victoria’s corrections commissioner, Jan Shuard, told ABC radio the prison system was “very ready” for the implementation of the ban. The Metropolitan remand centre is one of the state’s main prisons.
A spokeswoman from Corrections Victoria would only say a disturbance was being investigated, “but no further details are available at this stage”. A spokeswoman for the corrections minister, Wade Noonan, said the minister would not be commenting until it was “operationally appropriate” to do so.
The Metropolitan remand centre is one of the state’s major prison facilities.
The office of the corrections minister, Wade Noonan, has been contacted for comment.
According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data, about 84% of the prison population smokes.According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data, about 84% of the prison population smokes.
Simon Chapman, a tobacco researcher and professor of public health at the University of Sydney, has questioned the value of smoking bans in outdoor spaces, including in prisons. “There’s no evidence that it’s harmful to anyone but the smoker in wide open spaces, so my view is smoking ought to be allowed in open areas,” he said.Simon Chapman, a tobacco researcher and professor of public health at the University of Sydney, has questioned the value of smoking bans in outdoor spaces, including in prisons. “There’s no evidence that it’s harmful to anyone but the smoker in wide open spaces, so my view is smoking ought to be allowed in open areas,” he said.
Chapman said reviews of the effect of smoking bans in prison systems around the world showed varied success rates.Chapman said reviews of the effect of smoking bans in prison systems around the world showed varied success rates.
“In some prisons, it has been said to have worked well, and in other prisons there have been reports of difficulties, similar to the one described unfolding in Melbourne.”“In some prisons, it has been said to have worked well, and in other prisons there have been reports of difficulties, similar to the one described unfolding in Melbourne.”
A government inquiry found that a ban on smoking was partly to blame for a prison riot at Woodford correctional centre in Queensland in 1997.A government inquiry found that a ban on smoking was partly to blame for a prison riot at Woodford correctional centre in Queensland in 1997.