Negotiators talking to inmates in Hull jail lockdown

Negotiators are speaking to some of the inmates who have refused to return to their cells in the maximum-security section of the Hull jail in Gatineau, Que., which forced Quebec provincial police to put the jail in lockdown.

Sgt. Marc Tessier said 16 inmates failed to return to the cells in their wing and they were not co-operating with jail officials Wednesday morning.

No correctional officer was taken hostage or injured as inmates covered both cameras and windows with sheets to block any view into the wing, the CBC's Ashley Burke reported.

Twelve police negotiators set up a command post inside the jail to determine the reason for the demonstration and jail officials locked the area.

Tessier said the wing is a small space without access to the rest of the jail so the demonstration is contained.

"The procedure right now is to wait, to talk to them to see what we can do to resolve the situation without anyone getting hurt," Tessier said.

Gatineau police are also on hand to ensure the security perimeter around the jail while provincial police are inside.

Original Article
Source: CBC
Author: cbc