Seven prison officers were attacked today in Padua prison by a non-EU prisoner, who then threatened the institution’s doctor with death; two of the officers were forced to seek treatment from hospital doctors.
This was reported by the secretary of the Penitentiary Police Union (SPP), Aldo Di Giacomo.
“The Veneto institute – states Di Giacomo – confirms itself as one of the most critical in Italy due to the severe crowding and the high presence of foreigners.
The staff shortage is increasingly problematic with around seventy fewer agents in the last two years and another 20 due to retire by the end of the year. In the detention sections the ratio becomes one agent for 40/50 prisoners, destined to increase fivefold for the evening and night shifts”.
“As happened today in Padua – he continues – it is enough to deny anything to a prisoner who breaks the prison regulations to trigger the attack. An even more intolerable situation because it is always only the officers who pay, while the inmates responsible for the attacks risk at most being transferred to another prison where they will continue to attack the staff. With the tour of prisons in recent weeks – concludes Di Giacomo – we have raised attention to these problems. Now we expect rapid and effective responses to protect the safety of staff.”
