The Sappe union reported an attack on a prison officer in Bancali prison.
"Around 1:30 PM," reports Antonio Cannas, the national delegate for Sardinia, "an Italian inmate sneaked into the stairwell of the inmate section without authorization. The police officer on duty immediately chased him and was headbutted in the face. He has a large bump and sought treatment at the city emergency room."
This latest episode of violence is a further symptom of the problems at the prison. "It is no longer acceptable," Cannas continues, "to continue to witness Bancali police officers being subjected to daily assaults, which in 90 percent of cases result in emergency room visits. A strong signal is needed; SAPPE will report this to the appropriate authorities, calling into question those responsible for protecting the officers' safety."
The causes also lie in the increase in inmates with mental disorders and violent behavior: "The Sassari prison cannot become a sorting center for Italy's unmanageable inmates. The Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP) must assume its responsibilities and provide clear and immediate responses to protect the safety of those who wear the Penitentiary Police uniform every day with sacrifice and honor," Cannas concludes.
Donato Capece, Secretary General of SAPPE, while acknowledging the government's increased attention to prison issues, denounces the serious staffing shortages in Bancali's Penitentiary Police and the need for a comprehensive national reorganization of prison systems. "The Corps," he states, "guarantees legality and security in prisons, promoting the rehabilitation of inmates through professionalism and humanity, highlighting how a safe prison, attentive to social reintegration and the fight against illegal activities, contributes to national security in accordance with constitutional principles. But to continue to do so, we need manpower and resources, including legislation."
