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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Disturbance' reported at HMP Birmingham | 'Disturbance' reported at HMP Birmingham |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prison staff have withdrawn from two wings at HMP Birmingham after prison keys were stolen when an officer was "rushed" by inmates. | Prison staff have withdrawn from two wings at HMP Birmingham after prison keys were stolen when an officer was "rushed" by inmates. |
| It is understood that extra staff are on their way to reinforce prison staff and a specialist "Tornado" team of riot officers will be sent in. | It is understood that extra staff are on their way to reinforce prison staff and a specialist "Tornado" team of riot officers will be sent in. |
| G4S, which runs the prison, said that a "low-level incident" was taking place. All staff are accounted for. | |
| The Category B prison, formerly known as Winson Green, holds 1,450 inmates. | The Category B prison, formerly known as Winson Green, holds 1,450 inmates. |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the site in Winson Green Road at about 12:25 GMT and at least four ambulances are at the scene. | |
| It is understood the disturbance centres on wings N and P, which hold 250 prisoners, and both have been sealed off. | It is understood the disturbance centres on wings N and P, which hold 250 prisoners, and both have been sealed off. |
| More stories from Birmingham | |
| Alex Cavendish, a former prisoner who is now a prison and crime affairs academic, said trouble flared when lights were broken and inmates took controlled fire hoses. | |
| Officers then started locking prisoners in their cells, but one officer was threatened with a used syringe and another prisoner "came up behind him and snatched the keys from his belt". | |
| Staff then "withdraw to a place of safety", abandoning the wing, as they are directed to do in such situations. | |
| He described the incident as "probably most serious riot in a B category prison since Strangeways went up" in 1990. | |
| 'Safe conclusion' | |
| He said he was getting reports of one badly injured prisoner, inmates getting into the offender management unit (OMU) and destroying records and the prison gym being invaded, | |
| All prisoners who are not on the affected wings are believed to be back in their cells, with prison staff awaiting reinforcements before taking control of the other wings. | All prisoners who are not on the affected wings are believed to be back in their cells, with prison staff awaiting reinforcements before taking control of the other wings. |
| A G4S spokeswoman said: "We are responding to an ongoing incident at HMP Birmingham this morning which began just after 9am involving two wings of the prison. | A G4S spokeswoman said: "We are responding to an ongoing incident at HMP Birmingham this morning which began just after 9am involving two wings of the prison. |
| "We are in close contact with the National Offender Management Service, and are working with colleagues across the service to bring the incident to a safe conclusion." | "We are in close contact with the National Offender Management Service, and are working with colleagues across the service to bring the incident to a safe conclusion." |
| A spokesman for the Prison Officers Association (POA) said no staff injuries had been reported. | A spokesman for the Prison Officers Association (POA) said no staff injuries had been reported. |
| He said the incident "is another stark warning to the Ministry of Justice [MoJ] that the service is in crisis". | He said the incident "is another stark warning to the Ministry of Justice [MoJ] that the service is in crisis". |