Ninety corrections officers called in to help with riot, which is now a major police investigation

A RIOT at the Darwin Correctional Precinct involving 21 inmates — in which two prisoners were injured — is now a major crime investigation

NT Correctional Services Commissioner Scott McNairn talks to the media after 21 prisoners escaped from their cells and made it onto the roofs of accommodation blocks

A RIOT at the Darwin Correctional Precinct involving 21 inmates sparked a large-scale response from cops and corrections officers overnight.

The prisoners climbed onto the roofs of several cell blocks and refused to come down.

General duty police and the Territory Response Group were called in to help corrections officers quell the riot.

Corrections Commissioner Scott McNairn said the prisoners eventually came down from the roofs of the four buildings without any force being used.

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“We started negotiating with some prisoners and then we managed to secure the area and it was successful and there was no loss of life — no injuries to staff,” Mr McNairn said.

Two inmates were injured during the incident.

Mr McNairn said it was not yet clear why the prisoners decided to riot and interviews with the prisoners involved would be undertaken by police and corrections.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles and Corrections Commissioner Scott McNairn providing an update on the incident at Holtze Prison last night

Posted by The NT News on Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Corrections and police are investigating the matter and it is now a major crime investigation.

Mr McNairn would not say which buildings were damaged by fire and how extensive the damage was.

He said the prison was adequately staffed at the time of the incident.

A usual night shift sees 16 officers working but as a result of the disturbance 90 extra officers were called in to help.

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Justice Minister Natasha Fyles said there was no threat to public safety as a result of the incident.

“I must reassure the community that all of this took place behind the main wire of the downtown Correctional Facility and at no point was the community in danger,” she said.

Ms Fyles said those involved would be dealt with through the law.

“So a very serious incident and (it) will be thoroughly investigated — it is subject to a serious criminal investigation,” she said.

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“Just because something takes place in a prison does not mean that the law would not be upheld and police are investigating independently, corrections will hold a review to look into the incident.”