Latest news with #overcrowding
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Prison officer allegedly used riot shield to repeatedly strike inmate in van
There has been an increase in allegations of abuse of inmates by prison staff, including an incident which left a prisoner with 'significant disabilities', a European committee has found. The findings are contained in a report by the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) which conducted a broad-ranging inspection of Irish places of detention, the first since 2019. Physical safety of those in male prisons 'has deteriorated sharply', the CPT said. It said there has been an increase in allegations of prisoner abuse by staff since 2019, particularly in Cloverhill and Limerick prisons. 'Incidents included slaps, punches, kicks and other violence in places without CCTV coverage, such as escort vans and reception areas,' it said. READ MORE The report described severe overcrowding in some prisons, with some inmates having a living area of just 2.8sq m. 'Meanwhile, inter-prisoner violence remains widespread, with drug-related conflict and contraband smuggling driving much of the violence,' it said. One alleged incident, which occurred in 2023, was captured on a CCTV camera secretly installed in a prison van without the knowledge of prison escort officers. The CPT said the footage captured a prison officer allegedly using a riot shield to repeatedly strike an inmate. CCTV shows the prisoner being carried out of the van 'bleeding significantly from large open wounds on his head', the CPT said. [ Irish prisons at risk of 'tragic event' if overcrowding not fixed, warn prison officers Opens in new window ] The prisoner suffered a bleed on the brain and spent several weeks in hospital. Prison records show he suffered from significant disabilities 'commensurate with a head and brain injury including memory loss.' An inquiry was later opened and a criminal investigation launched. It is understood that the officer remains suspended. The CPT called the incident 'deeply troubling'. Other incidents of prisoner abuse by staff noted by the CPT include an officer allegedly 'meting out severe physical abuse' to an inmate by putting a foot on his neck to choke him. In another alleged attack, prisoner officers kicked and punched a prisoner as he lay on the ground before one officer pulled him by the hair and tried to strangle him. The prisoner also alleged that the officers sexually assaulted him, the CPT said. The CPT said the investigation was pending at the time of their visit but that the evidence it reviewed appeared to show unnecessary force was used. 'CCTV coverage shows that a prison officer jumps on the head of the prisoner ... pulling his head down and puts the prisoner on the floor.' [ Prison service embarks on €400m building project to ease overcrowding Opens in new window ] In a lengthy document outlining its response to the CPT findings, the Irish Government undertook to update the committee on the investigation into the alleged riot shield incident and outlined measures the Irish Prison Service (IPS) has taken to improve staff monitoring and whistleblower protection. The IPS also said it would publish a notice reminding staff of the rules around the use of force and that it would improve recording of such incidents.
The Independent
15 hours ago
- The Independent
The new train fleet set to make your journey much easier
South Western Railway (SWR) is deploying new 'Arterio' trains to alleviate severe overcrowding on services to London Waterloo. Eight additional Arterio trains have been launched in the past two months, bringing the total in operation to 14 across over 160 weekday services. Labour MP Fleur Anderson campaigned on the issue, highlighting 'extreme overcrowding' on lines approaching Waterloo, particularly in areas like Wandsworth Town. The new trains, described as 'platform hoovers', are designed to carry over 50 per cent more passengers and offer modern amenities like Wi-Fi and charging points. The full rollout of the £1 billion Arterio fleet was significantly delayed, with the first trains only carrying passengers in January 2024, reportedly due to driver training issues.
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Italy's Dolomites are compared to 'Disneyland' after 'influencer invasion' as videos show huge queues inching along mountain trails
Italy's Dolomites have been compared to Disneyland as the beauty spot became overloaded by swarms of selfie-snapping tourists and so-called influencers this week. Images and videos shared on social media shared by furious locals showed crowds of holidaymakers clogging up a cable car station in the Seceda area of the Alpine mountain range, which has become increasingly popular thanks to social media. One particular video shows a lengthy queue of visitors at the station over-spilling onto a nearby cafe, while some tourists are seen blocking a staircase as they wait in line. Another clip showed how a hiking trail came to a standstill as it became overwhelmed by tourists trying to reach the cable car. The video, which was shared on an Instagram page, was captioned: 'Something incredible even just to be told. 'Hours in line waiting for your turn to go up the Seceda to admire the meadows, ridges, the most beautiful mountains of the Alto Adige, being careful not to step on each other's feet, not to clash, to take the selfie as 'freely' possible in the presence of other tourists.' Such is the surge in visitors that the operator of the cable car that takes hikers up to the summit of the Seceda mountain has put in a request to triple the capacity of the chairlift, Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera reports. But recent scenes of overcrowding at the UNESCO World Heritage Site has sparked anger among locals and environmentalists who say large crowds could put wildlife at risk. Images and videos shared on social media shared by furious locals showed crowds of holidaymakers clogging up a cable car station in the Seceda area of the Dolomites One particular video shows a lengthy queue of visitors at the station over-spilling onto a nearby cafe Viral videos on social media platform TikTok have pointed out the realities of visiting the Dolomites region This is not the first time that images of overcrowding at the tourist hotspot have caused controversy online. Viral videos on social media platform TikTok have pointed out the realities of visiting the Dolomites region, depicting how visits to its beautiful landscapes are usually interrupted by large crowds of tourists and so-called influencers. One video shared earlier this month taken by a hiker at the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint showed a shot of the stunning Italian peaks with the words 'Expectation' written over clip. But the video then pans out to show a massive line of tourists stuck on a hiking trail as the words 'Reality' appear on the screen. The account that shared the video to the social platform wrote in the caption: 'Waited 1.5 hours for a rushed shot so we didn't hold up the line'. Another video taken at the same viewpoint showed a similar scene, with tourists seen waiting in line to take pictures of the backdrop. A separate clip shows the extent of the popularity of the Dolomites as dozens of tourists stand on the bank of a lake, tripods and cameras in hand, as they scramble to take snaps of the breathtaking scenery. The recent social media outcry over mass tourism in the Dolomites comes after a local farmer proposed an initiative to charge visitors a fee of five euros to enter the trails of the Puez Odle Nature Park. A TikTok video showed a huge queue of tourists lining up at a viewpoint to take snaps of the breathtaking landscapes A separate clip shows dozens of tourists standing on the bank of a lake, tripods and cameras in hand, as they scramble to take snaps of the breathtaking scenery Recent scenes of overcrowding at the UNESCO World Heritage Site has sparked anger among locals and environmentalists Recent condemnation of overtourism at the Italian mountain range comes after anti-tourist protesters targeted ski resorts over the winter While the measure has not been introduced, several locals have backed the proposal as they see it as a way stop visitors from littering and disrupting the environment. Commenting on the proposal, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club Carlo Alberto Zanella said in a social media post: 'One of the most photographed trails in the Dolomites, invaded by influencers, YouTubers, and Instagrammers. 'A tacky tourism that has led to people lying down with towels on the grass that never grows back and ruining nature for a selfie sponsored by influencers who give random advice without knowing the true beauty of our mountains', he added. Recent condemnation of overtourism at the Italian mountain range comes after anti-tourist protesters targeted ski resorts over the winter, with Italian locals branded the words 'too much' in bright red letters atop a snowy mountain. The red slogan, which was deliberately placed under a ski lift, appeared at Alpe Di Siusi ski resort in the Dolomites back in February. The graffiti was a move made by angry locals who had been growing increasingly impatient over the masses of tourists hitting the slopes during the peak winter season. Brigitte Foppa, councillor of the European Greens party, said tourism in the area was 'a continuous growth' that has been 'underestimated for years'. 'They told us that we were we are paying the price, the wound in society has opened', she warned. The impacts of mass-tourism have been largely documented in recent years File photo: Santa Magdalena village, idyllic Dolomites landscape in South Tyrol, Italian Alps But it was not the firms time residents protested against the growing number of visitors in the area. Last summer, locals painted a preferential lane with the word 'priority' in the asphalt, after commuters had raised concerns that the masses of tourists had clogged up access to cable cars, causing them delays. The impacts of mass-tourism have been largely documented in recent years. Last summer, an anti-tourist movement ravaged through Europe, with angry locals protesting the economic and social disruptions caused by foreign visitors. Spain saw a particularly large number of demonstrations across the mainland as well as its Canary and Balearic islands. Actions included marches on the street with protesters chanting 'tourists go home', as well as demonstrations on beaches which saw locals boo and jeer at sun-soaked tourists. Anti-tourist protests have continued into this summer.
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Health
- Zawya
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) supports efforts to protect inmates from cholera at Aweil Central Prison
Across South Sudan, tens of thousands of inmates are crammed into overcrowded prisons with dire living conditions, including poor sanitation and limited access to food, clean water and healthcare. In some locations male and female prisoners are housed in the same cells due to a lack of space, creating safety concerns and the risk of abuse. The Aweil Central Prison, in Northern Bahr El Ghazal, is not immune from this problem. Constructed with the capacity to house 150 inmates, it is now overwhelmed by more than 700 prisoners. In these conditions, disease can run rampant, particularly cholera, with more than 9300 cases already recorded in the region since the deadly outbreak began last year. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is responsible for monitoring prison environments, management, and the rights and wellbeing of inmates. After assessing conditions in the Aweil Central Prison, the mission's Rule of Law team requested prison authorities and the State Minister of Health to prioritize health services. 'We advocated very strongly for improved hygiene and sanitation for the prisoners, and particularly requested improved disease prevention because, if cholera takes erupts in this closed environment, it would be disastrous,' said UNMISS Corrections Advisor, Amina Kavirondo. As a result of this advocacy, all inmates and prison officers have now been vaccinated with the support of the World Health Organization and State Ministry of Health. 'Given the large number of inmates accommodated in such a crowded facility with dire living conditions, we were very worried about their exposure to disease and felt it was important to vaccinate the prisoners to prevent cholera taking hold,' said the Ministry of Health's immunization manager, Philip Malong Thiel. 'We were afraid because of the rumors that there were already cholera cases in the prison,' says one female inmate. 'I now feel prepared and protected after my vaccination.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
South Western Railway unveils ‘platform hoover' trains to tackle ‘extreme' Waterloo overcrowding
A fleet of new trains dubbed 'platform hoovers' are being rolled out in an effort to alleviate 'extreme overcrowding' on services to London's Waterloo. South Western Railway (SWR) invested £1 billion in the Arterio trains, which were supposed to be deployed in 2019, but only six were in operation at the start of the year. Now, a SWR spokesperson has confirmed that eight more trains have been launched in the past two months. 'As of today, we are running 14 Arterios on more than 160 services every weekday, on routes to Dorking, Guildford, Hampton Court, Kingston, Reading, Shepperton, Twickenham and Windsor & Eton Riverside,' the spokesperson told The Independent. 'We're looking forward to many more customers enjoying the increased capacity and comfort the Arterios bring to journeys as we introduce more trains into service over the coming weeks.' The announcement follows Labour MP Fleur Anderson's campaigning efforts to engage with rail operators about the issue. The Putney MP told the Standard: 'I have raised [the problem of] extreme overcrowding on the stations. 'As the Waterloo line gets closer to London, it's more full. By the time it gets to Putney, it is quite overcrowded but Wandsworth Town is really bad. Lots of people just can't get on the train.' She added that the layout of the Arterio trains means they are capable of fitting many more passengers onboard. 'They've been described as 'platform hoovers' – which everyone in Wandsworth Town will love to hear about,' she said. SWR had promised the new Arterio trains would 'transform every journey on our suburban network', with 'more capacity, quicker journey times and better reliability and punctuality for our customers'. But it wasn't until January 2024 that the first Arterio train carried passengers between Waterloo and Windsor – around five years later than planned. According to reports, the rollout of the new trains were delayed as existing drivers were required to run day-to-day services and were unable to get time off to attend training programmes. The trains, which were built by Alstom in Derby, have been designed to carry more than 50 per cent more passengers than the eight-car Class 455 trains they will replace.
