On 28 September 2022, an inmate at the Botafuegos prison in Algeciras tried to start a riot. He injured a prison officer and called on other inmates to join him. The uprising did not happen, but it shows the tension inside the prison, where officers have even had their cars set on fire in revenge.
Yet Botafuegos was "only" fifth on the list of Spain's most conflictive prisons that year. Figures for the first three quarters of 2022, collected by the prison officers' union Acaip and the Ministry of the Interior, showed the highest number of attacks on staff since 2016.
Two clear trends
- The problem is nationwide. The prisons with the most attacks are spread across Spain: Madrid, Seville, Cádiz and the Canary Islands.
- Attacks are rising everywhere. In all five prisons at the top, the number has gone up. In Sevilla II, it is more than double the previous worst year.
The five most conflictive prisons in 2022
- Madrid V (Soto del Real): 18 attacks
- Sevilla II (Morón de la Frontera): 17 attacks
- Puerto III (El Puerto de Santa María): 15 attacks
- Las Palmas II (Gran Canaria): 13 attacks
- Botafuegos (Algeciras): 11 attacks, shared with Teixeiro and Valencia
You can read more about each prison in our article List of the Most Dangerous Prisons in Spain.
Why is this happening?
According to the unions, the causes include staff shortages, many inmates with drug problems or mental illness, and inmates being moved far from their families. In prisons with many drug traffickers, there are also constant attempts to smuggle in mobile phones and drugs, sometimes by drone.
What this means for inmates and families
A tense prison is harder for everyone, including inmates who just want to serve their time in peace:
- Keep regular contact, and pay attention to changes in mood or tone.
- If your loved one feels unsafe, they can ask in writing for protection or a transfer to another unit.
- A lawyer can request a transfer to a prison closer to the family.
GC Libertad can help you follow up with the prison and request a transfer. Contact us.
Source: El Periódico de España