Prison guards used tear gas to get inmates off roof during prison riot: court documents

Correctional officers used tear gas to force a group of inmates off the roof during a riot at the Darwin Correctional Centre last May, the NT News can reveal.

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CORRECTIONAL officers used tear gas to force a group of inmates off the roof during a riot that caused $30m in damage at the Darwin Correctional Centre last May, the NT News can reveal.

According to court documents that outline the full details of the riot, obtained by the NT News, the melee was sparked by a prisoner in Sector 6 who smashed through the door of his building using the leg of a metal table after his request to move cells was denied about 7.30pm on May 13.

“He exited the building through the smashed window. That prisoner climbed on top of the Visitor’s Centre roof and remained there until apprehension at 8:20pm,” the documents states.

A group of other inmates from Sectors 6 and 7 then used furniture to smash out of their cells and climb fences to other sectors – including the one housing female prisoners.

Emergency service vehicles arrive at Darwin Correctional Precinct after a prisoners have been reported on the roof of Darwin jail after a mass breakout. Picture: Che Chorley

Soon after 9pm, a group of inmates broke into the prison guard’s office of Sector 5 and placed rags in liquid bottles and put wires in power sockets before “unknown prisoners” used an “unknown accelerant” to light a fire in the store room.

“Shortly after the group departed the office, the fire inside the office was noticeably ablaze, causing extensive damage to the building and the contents inside,” the document states.

“The building was rendered inoperable and has to be completely gutted and refurbished due to the damage caused by the fire. An estimated cost of repair is approximately $2 million.”

The group then moved to the Education building, which houses the prison’s library and music room, where another fire was lit.

The building was destroyed causing an estimated $15m in damage, with the library continuing to be “inoperable”.

A group of nine inmates then climbed onto the roof armed with makeshift weapons that they threw at corrections officers below while yelling demands for things, including pizza, smokes, a million dollars, a helicopter and a female prisoner.

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One inmate told corrections officers: “you dogs are going to get it, we are in control now.”

“The Corrections officers were approved to use CS gas for compliance,” the document states.

“Correctional officers deployed CS gas onto the Sector 2 education building roof. This caused the group of nine to jump onto a lower roof adjacent to the Education building.”

A total of 21 inmates were charged with their involvement in the riot, most of whom remain on remand.

It was revealed in a recent NT Budget Estimates hearing that damage caused in the riot was still to be fixed.

Acting Corrections Commissioner David Thompson told the hearing they were still “waiting for the main contract to be agreed and the main contractor to start the main refurbishment works.”

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