A small fire was started by prisoners in the Golden Grove Police Station lock-ups, on the East Bank of Demerara yesterday.
The fire was put out and no one was injured, although damage was done to the station’s property.
According to a police statement, around 6.30am yesterday, several prisoners were taken out of the lock-ups to shower and subsequently three of them demanded cigarettes and refused to return to their cells after their request was denied by the officers.
Police say the prisoners then began throwing faeces at the police ranks after the officers attempted to place them back into their cells. They remained in the passageway behind the main door leading to the cells, which was locked.
However, later in the day, around 1.30pm smoke was seen coming from the lockups and the three prisoners were seen with lit newspapers, which they placed in the passageway at the main door. While the blaze scorched two wooden doors and damaged a CCTV camera, it was extinguished and the three prisoners were then placed in their cells in the lock-ups, police added.
While no one was injured, the officers were unable to ascertain where the prisoners got the materials to start the fire
Stabroek News was also told that the prisoners had an altercation between themselves prior to the fire.
