Clampdown on gang violence at St Albans

IN an attempt to clamp down on gang violence and stabbings at St Albans Prison, the Correctional Services Department has begun an intervention programme to restore peace and security within the centre.

Acting National Correctional Services commissioner Zach Modise said yesterday that several major issues were being addressed at St Albans Prison.

These included gangsterism, overcrowding and the smuggling in of illegal items. More staff were also being recruited.

The intervention plan comes after an emergency meeting last month that discussed the spate of attacks and stabbings of officials.

Between April last year and March this year, 140 incidents of prisoners attacking prisoners were reported and 193 were injured.

Last year, 19 cases were reported in which inmates attacked officials.

This year nine more were reported, totalling 28 since January last year.

So far a total of 195 convicted prisoners have been transferred to various prisons across the country. Most of them are criminals serving time in the maximum and medium security section.

Some of the transferred prisoners were gang leaders who were allegedly responsible for instigating several of the stabbings. - Gareth Wilson