Parklea Correctional Centre: riot, fire breaks out at western Sydney prison
A specialist task force had to be be brought in to subdue prisoners who had manged to get on to the roof and start rioting at Parklea Correctional Centre.
Blacktown
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An emergency response team made up of specialist Corrective Services officers was called in to subdue prison rioters who destroyed a Parklea Correctional Centre block — setting fire to rooms.
As fire broke out, prisoners climbed on to the roof of the privately run MTC Broadspectrum facility, at around 2pm on Monday afternoon.
It’s understood more than a dozen prisoners were involved in the incident, which was resolved about four hours later.
About 4.30pm, a spokeswoman for prison operator MTC Broadspectrum said the “Security Operations Group and correctional officers are currently responding to an incident at Parklea Correctional Centre after 14 inmates climbed onto the roof of an accommodation wing”.
The Corrective Services NSW Security Operation Group was called in to the privately-run facility following the outbreak of the riot.
“Parklea’s Immediate Response Team officers and the Security Operation Group are managing the situation to safely bring the inmates down from the roof,” she said.
Parklea Correctional Centre Governor Paul Baker said the Security Operations Group and Immediate Response Team officers safely resolved an incident at the prison.
“The incident started about 2pm when a number of inmates accessed a roof area and refused to comply with staff directions,” he said.
“About 50 inmates in yards also refused staff directions and centre staff deployed chemical munitions to clear the yards.”
Mr Baker said Fire and Rescue NSW were brought in to put out fires lit within the wings of the facility.
“The incident was resolved by officers who were highly trained to manage such incidents,” he said. “The officers have done an excellent job, utilising their specialised training, to resolve this situation safely.
“I commend the teams from the Security Operations Group and Parklea’s Immediate Response Team for their skilful handling of this situation.”
The incident comes just days after an inmate at the facility allegedly punched a correctional officer in the face several times.
The spokeswoman said the officer was assessed by medical staff at the prison and then taken to Blacktown Hospital for further treatment.
“He was released later that day,” she said. “The offender has been placed in segregation.
“NSW Police and MTC-Broadspectrum are investigating the incident — all staff involved have been offered counselling.”
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