Spanish prison workers are protesting against total video surveillance: a disregard for professionalism?
Discontent has flared up in Spanish prisons over a new instruction that requires the installation of surveillance cameras in the storage areas for special equipment, which the union views as a sign of distrust towards the staff.
Discontent is brewing in Spanish prisons. Some employees complain that they feel under constant control by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The reason is a new instruction that requires the installation of surveillance cameras in places where special equipment is stored.
This includes rubber batons and handcuffs, which are used when unruly prisoners need to be calmed down.
According to instruction No. 4/2022, the management wants to know when, where, and under what circumstances these items are used on prisoners.
But these are not the only places where cameras will appear. They are also planned to be installed in search rooms and temporary isolation cells.
The "Your contempt can kill me" (TAMPM) trade union believes that in this way the Ministry of Internal Affairs shows that it does not care about real security in prisons, but only wants to control staff.
A trade union representative, Nacho Fernández, says that the government plans to spend money on cameras in lockers where batons and handcuffs are stored in order to record how they are used by employees.
He considers this unacceptable and sees it as another blow to the dignity and professionalism of penitentiary staff.
Fernández is convinced that this money would be better spent on installing cameras in various prison blocks to prevent fights, thefts, drug use and attacks on staff.
Other sources confirm that there are no cameras in the common areas of the blocks to monitor prisoners. The union criticizes the fact that instead the authorities are spending money on "spying on us; it's just outrageous."
The union representative reminds that every case of strip search or use of batons and handcuffs is reported "immediately" to the court, which controls the activities of prisons. According to him, "transparency is guaranteed."
The "Your contempt can kill me" trade union states that thanks to the professionalism of the employees, most conflicts are resolved without the use of force.
Therefore, according to its representative, there is no point in "criminalizing those who ensure security in prisons every day."
He adds that "those who work in Spanish prisons do not deserve such treatment and being forgotten; we deserve respect, resources, support and security" to do our job.