‘Code black’ riot: 145 Arthur Gorrie prison officers commended for their bravery

Over two days, dozens of angry and dangerous prisoners armed themselves with makeshift weapons and launched one of Queensland’s most notorious prison riots. This is the inside story of how it was shut down.

Prison officers who stopped a violent two-day “code black” riot of fires, flooding and armed inmates in the state’s remand jail will today be awarded citations for their brave efforts.

Dozens of prisoners were involved in the Arthur Gorrie jail riot – in which they trashed multiple units and threatened officers with weapons – during a strict lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Multiple fires were started, cells were trashed, whole units were flooded and prisoners broke out of their cells and armed themselves in the riot.

Arthur Gorrie jail riot in 2020. Source: Channel 7

A “perfect storm” in which most of the jail staff were in isolation – combined with increased anger from prisoners over restrictions such as a ban on visitors – led to the riot escalating to one of the worst in Queensland’s history.

Deputy Commissioner Gary McCahon told The Courier-Mail prisoners – with makeshift weapons made from whatever they broke off from cells – were “armed up”, “dangerous” and intended to harm officers.

Officers respond to the riot at Arthur Gorrie. Picture: Annette Dew

“Everybody responded to different incidents but we never had a loss of life or serious injury,” Mr McCahon said.

“When you look at that in the situation and the complexities that we were confronting … I think that just shows the quality of the people who responded.

“They were armed, they smashed the cells, they took any implement they possibly could, by smashing plumbing and picking up weapons … glass was the greatest risk. You didn’t know what they had.

“You could have cords from electrical cords, things that could choke the staff.”

One prisoner’s life was saved after he was pulled unconscious from his cell by staff, after he lit a fire in his small room.

“He would have definitely, in my view, he would have lost his life,” Mr McCahon said.

“He is a very lucky man.”

Police and fire crews outside Arthur Gorrie during the riot in 2020. Picture: Annette Dew

In the riot 170 cells were damaged with 28 unable to be used until major repair. In 92 cells external windows were broken; 95 had broken cell door viewing windows; 44 had electrical damage and 11 were fire damaged.

Specialist unit reinforcements from Woodford, Borallon, Brisbane and Wolston jails had to be brought in to take back control of the jail after 440 of the jail’s 505 were isolating away from work after an outbreak.

That involved officers in tactical gear and dog squads.

Staff took out the “ring leaders” first to stop the situation escalating further. In many cases, without a leader the prisoners would fall back into line.

Today 145 officers will receive citations for their efforts in helping end the riot.

Prison managers from other jails were among the teams.

Arthur Gorrie Correction Centre prison officers during the riots. Picture: Annette Dew

Brisbane correctional Centre secure manager Cornelius Smith was one of the reinforcements called in and was the first commander on scene.

“It was probably one of the first times I’ve been able to see prisoners get out of a cell,” he said.

“I don’t know how they got out.

“There was a lot of infrastructure damage – I don’t know how they did it or what they did – we just put it to bed as quick as possible to make sure it was safe to us and the prisoners as well.”

He had teams sent there earlier in the day trying to help medical staff give prisoners their medication, but they couldn’t be reached because of the damage.

Mr Smith said the riot may have been the worst he had seen.

“If you want to talk about Woodford in 97 when they did some damage up there, I think there was more damage there than at Woodford at the time,” he said.

“It was unbelievable the amount of damage they caused.”

After the riot, nine prisoners were charged by police.