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Mandal Prison Section Damaged by Inmate Unrest, Twelve Inmates Relocated
🇳🇴 Norway /Crime & Justice

Mandal Prison Section Damaged by Inmate Unrest, Twelve Inmates Relocated

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • An incident involving unrest and aggression at Mandal prison has rendered a section unusable, requiring the relocation of twelve inmates.
  • The damage is primarily to a common living and kitchen area, with no serious injuries reported among inmates.
  • Prison staff have expressed long-standing concerns about staffing levels, linking them to the potential for such incidents.

A section of Mandal prison in Norway is out of commission after inmates caused significant damage during an incident of unrest and aggression on Monday evening. Twelve inmates must be moved to other facilities due to the extensive damage, primarily affecting a shared living and kitchen area. Prison officials stated the section cannot be used until repairs are completed.

It is a common living and kitchen area that is quite destroyed.

— Rolf VelleThe prison director at Agder Prison described the damage to the affected section.

Authorities reported that no one sustained serious injuries during the disturbance. The Mandal police station indicated that the incident did not appear to be a fight between inmates but rather vandalism directed at the prison's furnishings. Police, fire, and ambulance services responded to the scene after the report came in around 7 p.m., and the situation was resolved by 10 p.m.

As it appeared to us, it was not a fight between the inmates, but damage to the prison's inventory.

— Magne LangsethThe section manager and acting chief of staff at Mandal police station clarified the nature of the incident.

Union representatives have voiced ongoing concerns about general staffing levels at the prison. Ole Gunnar Selås, the chief shop steward, told Lindesnes avis that there has been a long-standing worry that undesirable events could occur due to insufficient personnel. Mandal prison, which opened in 2020, has a total capacity of 100 beds.

We have long been worried that unwanted incidents will happen.

— Ole Gunnar SelåsThe chief shop steward expressed concerns about prison staffing.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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