Australian prison evacuated due to inmate riot sparked by ban on smoking

All staff were evacuated from a maximum security prison in Ravenhall, Victoria, on Tuesday after several hundred prisoners rioted. The unrest began at at the Metropolitan remand centre, in the outer western suburbs of Melbourne, when prisoners breached an inner perimeter fence. Parts of the prison were locked down and police secured the outer perimeter. All staff were accounted for and there were no reports of staff injuries. A police spokeswoman said staff had been evacuated and inmates were contained within the grounds. About 300 prisoners were involved in the disturbance.

Staff have been evacuated as a precaution and inmates were contained within the grounds. Police units were at the scene, including officers from the air wing.

A police spokesman confirmed the riot with Australian reporters.

It’s reported the riot was in response to a smoking ban which was to be implemented in prisons across Victoria from Wednesday. It’s believed the ban at Ravenhall was introduced on Tuesday. According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data, about 84% of the prison population smokes. Simon Chapman, a tobacco researcher told The Guardian he questioned the value of smoking bans in outdoor spaces, including in prisons. An Australian government inquiry found that a ban on smoking was partly to blame for a riot at Woodford correctional centre in Queensland back in 1997.

There’s no evidence that it’s harmful to anyone but the smoker in wide open spaces, so my view is smoking ought to be allowed in open areas.

Simon Chapman, a tobacco researcher and professor of public health.

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