Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Not a day goes by without the prison of Santa Maria Capua Vetere being shaken by episodes of violence and insubordination.
Today, around 12:00 noon, two sections of the Thames ward, populated by High Security inmates, staged a protest that resulted in the assault of a Prison Police Inspector.
The officer was punched and required medical treatment at a local hospital.
In addition to the assault, the inmates damaged furniture and equipment in the unit, culminating their raid by breaking the entrance glass before returning to their cells.
The protest appears to have been born out of health concerns, with inmates complaining about the lack of adequate care for a fellow inmate suffering from serious illnesses.
Unfortunately, the aggressions prison staff in Santa Maria Capua Vetere have now become a daily occurrence, with officers finding themselves facing situations of constant danger.
"The situation is increasingly critical due to a prison population that doesn't respect the rules and is accustomed to the idea of having everything it wants.", said Secretary General Angelo Di Costanzo.
The Penitentiary Police Union (As.p.pe) is calling for immediate government intervention to address the ongoing tensions and assaults on staff, which are now commonplace.
As.p.pe also calls for the immediate implementation of Article 14 bis of the Penitentiary System, which provides restrictive measures for violent and dangerous inmates.
Furthermore, the association proposes equipping the Penitentiary Police with tasers or other defense tools against violent inmates who have no respect for the rules and for the people who represent the State.
Faced with the authorities' inertia, As.p.pe does not rule out the possibility of sensational protests by the police. "The time for words is over", Di Costanzo declared.
"In recent years, we have visited every penitentiary in Italy, we have listened to the staff, we have written repeatedly to the relevant authorities, but it is clear that those in charge have not yet taken our requests seriously."
As.p.pe appeals to the Government to intervene promptly to ensure the safety of prison staff and restore order within the Santa Maria Capua Vetere prison.
EDITORIAL TEAM
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