Generally speaking there are three ingredients to all riots, Prison Officers working excessive overtime, the prisoner population being overcrowded and hot weather. This riot was to be no different. The Prison population and to some extent the Prison Officers themselves, were becoming anxious following the release of the Nagel Royal Commission into New South Wales Prisons report in April, just four months earlier.
The Prison System had been in turmoil from early 1974. There had been riots at Long Bay, Parramatta, Maitland and Goulburn Gaols. In addition Bathurst Gaol had been burnt to the ground in February 1974 which caused the formation of the Royal Commission.
The Executive staff had received information from an informant two days prior, that the crims would riot on 22nd of August. Stan Morgan was the Acting Superintendent on that day and his Deputy Superintendent was Frank “Karate Jack” Hutchen. Mr Morgan was a lovely man but lacked the fortitude to make a decision. He had spent well over 20 years driving a truck at Parramatta Gaol and badly lacked Gaol experience and as a result lacked the ability to make those difficult and sometimes challenging decisions that Superintendents of Maximum Security Gaols are required to make.
Mr Hutchen had placed two Officers above the CIP gate. He had fully armed and double maned the Towers for enhanced security and control in case of a riot as well as preventing an escape should the riot be a ploy to distract Prison staff away from a possible escape exit, as well as the protection of the Officers. He had also put into place an escape plan for the Officers to evacuate the Gaol safely which included leaving some vital gates unlocked to allow quick access.
At 11.04 hours on 22nd August 1978 the CIP erupted. The Prison Officers ran for their lives as the prisoners took control of the inside of the CIP. The noise was deafening as several crims climbed onto the Wing rooves, with most remaining on the ground lighting small fires and arming themselves with iron bars, pieces of wood, in fact anything they could get their hands on. The do-gooders had put brick flower beds in front of 3 and 4 Wings to ensure the crims had plenty on ammunition to throw at the Officers.
About 80 Officers had gathered outside the CIP gate all geared up in riot gear, with batons, shields, gas masks and overalls if you could get a pair. The Officers were lined up in four rows. The tension was enormous. The Officers simply wanted to retake the Gaol and put it under the control of the Prison administration once more. To do that someone had to give the order.
To find out more about this true and devastating riot, read my eBook Cutting the Bars – Volume 1, available on Amazon.
The cleanup, the day after the riot in the Central Industrial Prison
Frank Hutchen in the foreground, extreme right
