Avellino – Another episode of violence occurred inside the Avellino prison, where the discovery of two cell phones in the possession of several inmates escalated into an assault on Penitentiary Police personnel. Three officers were injured, all of whom were required to seek treatment in the emergency room of the San Giuseppe Moscati hospital in Avellino.
Checking and finding phones
The incident occurred last night, at the start of a shift in the prison's common-room section. During a routine check, an officer allegedly caught an inmate using a cell phone in his cell.
The alarm was immediately raised at the General Surveillance Office, and the staff intervened by carrying out a search that resulted in the seizure of two smartphones complete with phone cards, items prohibited inside the prison.
The attack on the officers
The recovery operations, however, quickly deteriorated. The inmates in the room reportedly reacted violently, attacking the Penitentiary Police officers involved in the seizure.
Three officers were injured and transported to the emergency room of Moscati Hospital in Avellino, where they were treated and discharged with a seven-day prognosis.
The union's warning: "The situation is now unsustainable."
Raffaele Troise, head of the UIL FP Penitentiary Police of Avellino, spoke out about the incident, describing it as an episode destined to rekindle attention on the institute's critical issues.
According to the union representative, the constant discovery of cell phones in cells poses a serious security problem, as it allows unauthorized connections with the outside world and can foster illegal activities even from inside the prison.
Troise also expressed his praise for the officers involved in the intervention, emphasizing how they carried out the operation despite the violence they suffered.
Between reduced staff, heat and water emergency
The UIL FP reports an increasingly difficult work environment. In addition to chronic staff shortages and particularly demanding shifts, officers have reportedly been forced to work in a facility experiencing a persistent water emergency for weeks.
The situation is further aggravated by the high temperatures of recent days, approaching 40 degrees, and the lack of adequate air conditioning in some departments. This combination of factors, according to the union, jeopardizes both the well-being of staff and the safety standards of the facility.
The appeal to the Penitentiary Administration
According to UIL FP, urgent intervention by the Prison Administration is now essential to strengthen staffing, improve the prison's structural conditions, and enhance security measures.
The latest attack on officers, the union concludes, confirms how staff continue to ensure order and legality with great self-sacrifice, yet operate in increasingly critical and unsustainable conditions.
Details on the situation in the Avellino prison
Here's some helpful information about the recent attack and working conditions in the Avellino prison.
- Recent incidents: The assault is just the latest in a series of violent incidents within the facility.
- Working conditions: The agents operate in a context of staff shortages and difficult climatic conditions.
- Water emergency: The prison is facing a water crisis which further exacerbates the daily difficulties.
- Request for intervention: The UIL FP union is calling for urgent action to improve safety and working conditions.
