An official Fontcalent prison in Alicante was reported to have faced a violent incident yesterday as staff intervened to end a fight among inmates in one of the galleries of the hosting module. The event involved multiple repeat offenders, according to the ACAIP-UGT union, which claims that as many as thirty prisoners joined the confrontation and accused the system of a lax disciplinary regime that creates risky situations for both workers and inmates. Prison officials at the site, however, described the number of participants more conservatively, noting that six inmates were involved. Four of them remained in the solitary module, while the remaining two were transferred to another facility on the same day.
The incident occurred after dinner in module 4 of the Integration unit at Alicante prison, formerly known as Fontcalent, on Tuesday, or more precisely yesterday. ACAIP-UGT reports indicate that some prisoners forced a confrontation with another inmate, using broomsticks and belts as improvised weapons in one of the galleries. The clash prompted a rapid response from the prison staff, who required additional colleagues to bring the fight under control. In the course of the intervention, a staff member reportedly sustained a hand injury after being struck during the skirmish. The union cites the injuries as a clear example of the dangers faced by frontline workers in these settings.
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Despite the visual intensity of the incident, the union stated in a formal communication that no prisoners were moved to the isolation module by central administration. Only the prisoner who was attacked was taken to the ninth module for separation from the group. The rest of the prison population remained in their respective housing areas. This handling underscores the ongoing debate over the use of solitary confinement and its impact on safety inside the facility.
The ACAIP-UGT position characterizes the isolation module as a miscellaneous area used by central management to place inmates who do not fit the regular regime. The union argues that this module is not adequately equipped to house such inmates and that several incidents occur there due to substandard facilities. They point to fragile structures and elements that inmates could manipulate to use as improvised weapons, which raises concerns about long-term safety and security within the unit.
According to the union, the Fontcalent isolation module has been closed for months, with the center offering only limited explanations. While four of the six detainees involved in the fight were kept in isolation, the other two were transferred to another center. This pattern has prompted repeated complaints about how inmates are managed and how risks are mitigated, highlighting tensions between on-site staff and central administration.
ACAIP-UGT notes that inmate-to-inmate incidents have not been unusual at Alicante prison in recent years. They reference data from 2021 to 2022 showing injuries of varying degrees among staff, emphasizing the need for regular coexistence strategies within the facility. The union argues that staff should be supported by clear disciplinary policies and by decisions from the administration that enforce the established rules. They advocate internal separations aligned with each prisoner profile to reduce friction, a move they say is not consistently implemented in Fontcalent despite repeated worker concerns and formal demands.
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