“No penitentiary has requested reinforcements from the police. This means that there was sufficient staff present to ensure basic services,” said spokeswoman Valérie Callebaut.
The prisoners in Tournai and in Jamioulx could not receive a private visit until 2 pm today or could not go to the courtyard. Visits from their lawyer and transfers to the courthouse were possible.
The guards want the action to be a solution to the persistent overcrowding and staff shortage in the sector. In principle, there is only room for 9,599 inmates in the 35 penitentiary institutions in our country, but at the moment there are 10,797 inmates. To alleviate the worst need, extra beds have been added, but the personnel framework is not following, according to the unions. The Prison Service emphasizes that the recruitment of additional staff is in full swing.
Earlier this week, the staff of the Flemish prisons went on strike.