Head of the Clarendon Police Division, Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, is backing the constable who tear-gassed jailed inmates on Friday.

According to Superintendent Lewis, the policeman discharged his canister and ran from the cell after he was attacked by an inmate.

He told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that the policeman locked the cell after he got out.

"Everybody knows that with facilities like these worldwide, you have problems from time to time, and the measure taken by that constable, I am in 100 per cent support," the Clarendon cop said.

Six inmates had to be taken to the May Pen Hospital after the incident, with some having to be given oxygen support for breathing complications arising from the incident.

But Yvonne McCalla-Sobers, chairperson for the human rights group Families Against State Terrorism, condemned the police for locking the door to the cell with the open canister inside.

"This is a very dangerous procedure," she said.

Probe

McCalla-Sobers is demanding an immediate investigation into the matter involving the Public Defender.

"If there was one or two persons who had indeed attacked or assaulted the police in some way, then I do feel the police were obliged to deal with those persons, and not in a general way tear-gas the inmates in a situation like that. Persons are in custody and that means they are to be cared for," she added.

One woman told The Gleaner on Friday that her nephew, who was also in the cell, was asthmatic. She said he was still complaining of chest pains hours after the incident.