The union representing prison guards is recommending tough new restrictions in the wake of Saturday night's deadly riot at a federal prison in Agassiz, B.C.

Gord Robertson, a regional president with the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, says prisons like the one in Agassiz, B.C., are becoming more dangerous.
(CBC)

The call comes after child sex-offender Michael Gibbon was murdered during a riot that left another inmate in hospital and the entire prison in lockdown.

It was the third disturbance at the medium-security Mountain Institution this year.

Prison guards say Corrections Canada was warned that the prison's open concept would cause problems at Mountain, where inmates can move freely within the prison walls.

On Saturday night, those fears were realized when guards were forced to flee to the prison roof after inmates began rebelling in the gymnasium, later taking over the entire prison.

Sex offender Gibbon was killed during the riot.

Gord Robertson, a regional president with the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, says this is yet another sign that prisons are becoming more dangerous.

"It's no surprise this happened, the inmate profile is changing and it's becoming more violent," he said.

As a result, the union is calling for medium-security prisoners to be placed under tighter restrictions, requiring them to be locked in their cells when not at prison jobs or attending programs.

Guards also want to see barriers installed to allow staff to lock down sections of the prison should a riot occur.

The entire prison remained under lockdown Monday as police homicide investigators carried out their work.