An inmate threw a tray of hot food at a worker, who had to be taken to hospital. On the same day, another official was assaulted and threatened with death.
The Sevilla Penitentiary Psychiatric Hospital has once again been the scene of serious violent incidents. According to the ACAIP-UGT union, two officials were assaulted on the same day by inmates at the facility, in what the union describes as yet another example of the growing insecurity faced by workers.
In the first incident, which occurred during meal distribution, an inmate threw a tray with hot stew at an official. The employee suffered burns on his arm, head, and side of the face, necessitating his transfer to a hospital for medical assistance. Following the assault, the inmate displayed extremely violent behaviour and attempted to destroy the cell door, which forced officials to intervene and apply mechanical restraint.
Shortly after, a second official was assaulted by another inmate who, in addition to threatening him with death, refused to comply with a cell change ordered by the psychiatrist. As a result of the intervention, the worker sustained injuries to his hand and arm.
ACAIP-UGT emphasises that these events are "not isolated" and are part of a situation that occurs "too frequently" at the facility. The union denounces that officials are working under increasingly dangerous conditions, with a clear lack of personal and material resources.
One of the aspects that concerns the union the most is that numerous inmates repeatedly fail to comply with their pharmacological treatments "without effective measures being taken to ensure therapeutic follow-up." This circumstance, according to the union, increases the risk of violent episodes that endanger both workers and other inmates.
"Death threats, physical assaults, and violence are part of the daily life of the staff," ACAIP-UGT stated in a communiqué. "Meanwhile, professionals continue to perform their duties with insufficient resources and without the necessary safety measures to face extremely serious situations."
The union demands that the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions and the management of the facility "stop ignoring this reality" and immediately adopt effective measures to protect the staff. "It is unacceptable to wait for a tragedy to occur before taking action," they warn.
"Every assault that goes unanswered sends a message of impunity that further exacerbates an already unsustainable situation," they add. For the organisation, the safety of workers "cannot wait any longer. Acting now is an obligation, not an option."
These assaults occur in a context of recurring complaints from penitentiary unions about the lack of staff and resources in facilities across the province of Sevilla. The Sevilla Penitentiary Psychiatric Hospital, located in the capital, is a reference centre for inmates with mental disorders from all over Andalusia, which adds complexity to security management.
The affected workers have received support from their colleagues and the union, which has already announced that it will bring these incidents to the attention of the facility's management and the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions to demand urgent measures.
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