Documents obtained under freedom of information laws indicate that the day of revolt at South Coast Correctional Centre earlier this year was worse than disclosed.
On January 3, the South Coast Register reported a maximum-security inmate started a fire and refused to vacate his cell.
According to Corrective Services NSW about the same time, two other inmates climbed on to an awning of an internal building and came back down shortly after without instruction.
The maximum-security wing was placed in lock-down with all inmates secured in their cells. A series of fires were then lit in four other cells.
Documents obtained by 9news.com.au under freedom of information laws, revealed the full details of what played out at the maximum-security prison.
A letter from the prison's governor to custodial management stated that about 120 inmates were involved in the incidents, in which abuse was hurled at staff, fires were lit, jail weapons were created and urine and faeces thrown at prison staff.
The letter stated that while the maximum-security inmate first lit a fire in his call, inmates in three adjacent yards "became defiant abusing and threatening staff, arming up with jail-made weapons and baiting staff to enter the yards".
In response to this, prison management secured the rest of the prison and began forming response groups. However, a fire alarm was triggered in response to another inmate lighting a fire in his shared cell.
On arrival, the inmates failed to comply with staff instruction and "chemical munitions were deployed" and inmates, one of which had a home-made shiv hidden on his body, were "forcibly removed".
Staff then geared up in riot attire, despite Corrective Services NSW at the time claiming the incident "was not a riot".
While this occurred, inmates in one of the yards created weapons from "broom handles, Otto bin lids and general rubbish".
READ MORE: Review of CCTV footage of jail riot
Inmates in the yard ignored directions from prison staff and tear gas was deployed. All inmates were then secured and taken back to their cells in an orderly fashion. Staff then swept through all sections of the prison to remove flexicuffs from the inmates which had been restrained.
Inmates in a neighbouring yard were not cooperative and armed themselves with weapons while wearing wet garments around their faces to protect themselves from tear gas.
Chemical munitions were deployed on this yard and inmates were taken to their cells in a controlled fashion.
Despite Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin praising officers at South Coast Correctional Centre for their “excellent work” at 12.07pm on January 3, the drama was still unfolding inside the prison.
At 12.30pm a full review was conducted by staff and it was found that no staff were “seriously injured” and staff response protocols were effective.
However, more incidents broke out about 3.15pm when three inmates again became defiant.
Tear gas was deployed in one cell when an inmate refused to cooperate with staff.
Another inmate in a separate cell threw “urine and faeces at staff” and became violent until he was restrained by staff.
At the same time another two inmates abused and threatened staff, shouting “f**k you dogs”. This resulted in tear gas being deployed and inmates being removed from their cells and placed in alternative accommodations.
9 News reported that Corrective Services NSW refused to release CCTV of the incidents under freedom of information laws, because it claimed this footage could put prison staff at risk and potentially reveal information that could help inmates escape.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
