"Avellino's prison is increasingly resembling those in South America, where violence reigns supreme." This is the warning raised by Vincenzo Santoriello and Mimmo Nicotra of Con.Si.Pe., the prison police union.
The recent attack on an inmate, organized by a rival gang, and the violence suffered by two officers are only the latest episodes of an unsustainable situation. Fights, beatings, escape attempts and threats to staff are the order of the day.
“The officers are subjected to constant stress and to a real risk to their physical safety,” the unionists denounce. “The lack of personnel and the antiquity of the structures aggravate an already critical situation, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty.”
According to the With.Si.Pe., the problem is not just about Avellino, but is widespread throughout Campania and, probably, nationwide. “The authorities are downplaying the seriousness of the situation, blaming it on overcrowding,” say unionists. “But the reality is that many institutions have become no man’s lands, where the rules are not respected.”
The unionists are calling for urgent intervention by the institutions to re-establish order and security in prisons. “It is necessary to increase staff, improve conditions in the institutions and adopt more severe measures against violent inmates,” conclude Santoriello and Nicotra.
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