Wellington Correctional Centre: Teargas used to shut down prison riot

VIDEO: TEARGAS was used to shut down a prison fight sparked by a gang at Wellington Correctional Centre, after cells were deliberately set alight.

TEARGAS was used to shut down a prison fight sparked by a gang at Wellington Correctional Centre last week, after cells were deliberately set alight.

In footage taken from inside the jail, officers are seen taking the inmates out of their cell as one inmate tries to assault a prison officer.

Corrective services minister David Elliott said the officers showed incredible bravery.

“Correctional officers are our last line of defence,” Mr Elliott said.

A still from the video of the riot at Wellington Correctional Centre last week / Supplied

“I telephoned the officers to thank them for their service and said the community was grateful for their work.

“I will be nominating all officers involved for bravery awards.”

The fires were deliberately set at about 3.30pm on Thursday, and the inmates involved had only minor injuries.

The inmates are allegedly part of a Pacific Islander gang known as the Outkasts.

It is understood the inmates were moved to the jail after violence at Goulburn prison, where guards used tear gas, and live bullets to stop a brawl in January.

The state’s prison population is at a record high of 12,121, forcing the state government to consider overturning the closure of Parramatta jail.

It has already announced the reopening of Grafton and Kirkconnell jails as a result of the explosion in the prison population.