Molten butter attacks in B.C. prisons prompt demands for more guards

Violence in B.C. prisons is on the rise, says the union representingjail guards, which is calling for morestaff to handle theincreased number of attacks behind bars.

One of the most troubling attacks isthe use of molten butter as a weapon toburn other inmates, said DeanPurdy, a spokesman for the union representing prison guards.

• Prison food after cutbacks called disgusting and inadequate by B.C. inmates

"They're heating up butter mixed with sugar and bleach in the microwaves to extreme temperatures and throwing it in the face of their targeted inmate." saidPurdy, avice president atthe B.C. Government Employees Union.

"It's heated up for sometimes 10 or 15 minutes to the most extreme temperatures where it's just bubbling.

"If it hits someone in the face, it actually will offer such severe burns that the face starts to disfigure or almost melt."

Some inmates have been permanentlydisfigured by these attacks.

Attacks rising, says union

The B.C. government has responded by limiting prisoners'use of microwaves, the CBC has learned.

ButPurdysaidmore guards are needed to intervene before prisoners are attacked.

The butter attacks are part of an overall risein violence in B.C. prisons, he said.

According to numbers gathered by the union, attacks on both guards and inmates rose more than 30 per cent last year, from 978 attacks in 2014 to 1,394 attacks in 2015.

Attacks by inmates on staff rose from 71 in 2014 to 99 in 2015, according to the union.

In one case, which was cited in a criminalcourt case, an inmateseated at breakfastwas attacked by another inmate who hurled a container of melted butter at him.The victim sufferedsecond-degree burns on his face, neck, and lips and swollen eyes.

In a victim impact statement, the inmate said the attack left him nervous and depressed.

LawyerToniaGrace, who has represented one injured prison inmate,said removing prison microwaves is not the answer.

"The microwaves provide a semblance of normality and independence to these people so they can, you know, feed themselves," Grace said."You don't get large portions in custody. You get like airline food. You're getting that 24/7."

"So lots of these people will buy their own snacks to try and supplement their diet and try and cope with the fact that they've had their liberty taken away from them."

'Scalding' butter used as weapon

The hot butter attacks came to light following aWorkSafeBCinspection conducted at thePrince George Regional Correctional Centrelast October.

Thatreportfound that inmates there wereusing microwaves to heat butter and other condiments "to a scalding temperature andusing the mixture as a weapon against staff."

Purdy, who is also a guard at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre,said more prison staff would reduce the risk of attacks. In B.C., there was once a minimum requirement of one guard for every 20 inmates, he said.

Now, in some facilities, that ratio is much higher. For example at the Surrey Pretrial Centre,there is one guard for every 72 prisoners. At the Prince George prison, it's one guard for every 40 prisoners.

"These spikes are something that go hand in hand with overcrowding, with capacity pressures in the jails, and it's a big concern for us ...because safety isparamount in our business,"Purdysaid.

B.C. Solicitor General Mike Morris said in a statement thatthe potential for violencein B.C. prisons is an unfortunatereality"given the violent criminal histories of many in custody."

Morris said the ministry has hired 440 new staff since 2007, and a new correctional centre will soon open in the Okanaganto address crowding.

In a background statement provided by the ministry, it saidthat staff-to-prison ratios are not all as bad as Purdy suggests, stating they'reas low as one guard for 10 prisoners in some units.

Last year, B.C.AuditorGeneralCarolBellringerissued a report that said the province's prisons are overcrowded, endangering inmates and staff.

With files from the CBC'sDaybreak North.

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