The Department of Corrective Services has denied that staffing levels at Acacia Prison are the leading factor in the riot that occurred Sunday night.

Corrective Services Acting Commissioner Mike Reynolds told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast that around 20 inmates set fire to infrastructure and climbed on the roof on Sunday afternoon. About 100 prisoners were involved in the riot.

“We don’t know what the trigger of the disturbance was. At this stage, we don’t have a cause there’ll obviously be a lot of investigations,” he said.

The WA Prison Officers’ Union says the riot broke out when prisoners with COVID were moved into a different unit, raising concerns over poor staffing levels.

“The union’s position (is) always to say that any incident in a prison is due to short-staffing,” he said. 

“I’ve been advised this morning that the staffing shortfalls have been within the tolerances built in the contract since it was signed in May.”

Click PLAY below to find out more about the riot at Acacia Prison

#BREAKING: A riot is unfolding at Acacia Prison.

Officers are fighting fires in riot shields as inmates turn violent. @MiaEgerton #9News pic.twitter.com/cVQi7rAnCI

— 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) February 27, 2022