Prison drama: police still in Waikeria prison, where 19 inmates are burning mattresses on the roof

Police are still in Waikeria prison tonight more than six hours after arriving to negotiate with runaway inmates who are on the roof burning mattresses.

Specialized advanced control and containment teams, made up of staff from a variety of prisons, are in the jail where inmates have been causing riots since early this afternoon.

Police, firefighters and St. John are also on site as correctional officers continue to try to negotiate with inmates and ensure the safety of everyone in the prison.

A spokesman said 19 prisoners have been sighted on the roof of the building. This included those who participated in lighting a yard fires earlier today, along with several others who were able to get out of their cells with help.

“The prisoners have been able to access some parts of the building by breaking the ceiling space, however their movement within the building is restricted by internal gates, barriers and secured doors.

“There is a lot of smoke around the building that comes from mattresses lit by inmates.”

While there is no threat to public safety, Corrections staff have moved 49 inmates from one unit to another part of the prison as the incident continues.

“There are about 230 prisoners in total in the ‘upper jail’ facility and we will not hesitate to evacuate more prisoners if necessary to keep them safe.”

FENZ was originally called to Waikeria after inmates lit several fires in the prison’s exercise yard Tuesday afternoon.

About 20 prisoners were using the yard at the time.

The situation was thought to be under control before nine prisoners refused to follow instructions, Newshub reported.

The criminals allegedly removed the bathroom doors from their hinges and used them as weapons against staff.

Corrections Association president Alan Whitley said the union was offering support.

“We are always concerned about people when a situation like this occurs, but we have specialized teams that have specialized training, they are professional people and they will do a professional job to keep the situation under control.” “Whitley told RNZ.

St John staff treated various staff members and inmates for smoke inhalation. Earlier in the evening at least one prisoner was thought to be bleeding after an altercation with the guards.

One inmate on remand said a prison riot was imminent, with inmates protesting basic human rights. They claimed there were problems at the prison, including toilet paper that took days to provide, Newshub reported.

Last year, two officers from the Waikeria Prison Correctional Facility were punched in the face on nearly the same number of days, while fighting was also reported between inmates.

An inmate struck an officer in the face and another officer was also injured when he stepped in to help.

That altercation came after an officer was threatened and beaten a few days earlier.

There had also been advance reports of prisoners fighting among themselves.

Waikeria Prison is one of the largest prisons in New Zealand, located on a 1200ha site south of Te Awamutu in the Waikato region.

The “upper jail” where the inmates are currently located was built in 1911 and is the oldest part of the prison. It is being replaced by a new facility that is being built at the prison and is scheduled to open in 2022.