An incident at Puerto III prison, in the province of Cádiz, has left four officers injured, one of them seriously. The events occurred on May 29 when an inmate attempted to attack two prison workers using a fork.
The swift intervention of other officers present allowed for the situation to be controlled and the inmate to be subdued, preventing more severe consequences. However, during the altercation, four employees sustained injuries.
“"The officers acted in a situation of 'extreme tension and risk' to protect both other workers and the rest of the prison population."
The ACAIP-UGT union has reported the incident and used the occasion to reiterate its concern for the safety of prison staff. They warn that the inmate population is becoming increasingly numerous and complex, with profiles that exhibit higher levels of violence and, in some cases, links to organized crime.
The trade union criticizes that the current structure of staffing and job roles are based on outdated models, far removed from the current reality of correctional facilities. They point to a lack of human, material, and training resources, considering personal defense training insufficient for dealing with violent inmates.
ACAIP-UGT insists on the need to recognize prison officers as agents of authority to strengthen their legal protection and toughen penalties for assaults. They also demand a restructuring of staff, an update of job roles, and a review of the current prison model, arguing that safety cannot depend solely on the professionalism of employees working with fewer resources and greater pressure.
