This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-38341924
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Disturbance 'spreads' at HMP Birmingham | Disturbance 'spreads' at HMP Birmingham |
(35 minutes later) | |
A disturbance at HMP Birmingham has spread to four wings of the prison. | |
Trouble flared when staff prison keys were stolen when an officer was "rushed" by inmates. | Trouble flared when staff prison keys were stolen when an officer was "rushed" by inmates. |
Extra staff, some with dogs, have been sent inside the jail along with a specialist Tornado team of riot officers. | |
G4S, which runs the prison, said it wanted to end the disturbance safely. The Category B prison, formerly known as Winson Green, holds 1,450 inmates. | |
Live: Latest on the prison disturbance | |
Officers initially withdrew from two wings - which included some administrative offices - on Friday morning, and G4S confirmed the incident has since spread to two further wings. | |
It said earlier a "low-level incident" was taking place. | |
Jerry Petherick, managing director for G4S custodial and detention services, also said West Midlands Police helicopter was also in attendance. | |
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. | 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. All staff are accounted for. | It is understood the disturbance centres on wings N and P, which hold 250 prisoners, and both have been sealed off. All staff are accounted for. |
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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | He described the incident as "probably most serious riot in a B category prison since Strangeways went up" in 1990. |
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. | |
From the scene: BBC News reporter Nicola Beckford | From the scene: BBC News reporter Nicola Beckford |
There is clearly something pretty serious going on inside the jail. I have been here all morning and seen a number of vehicles going inside - at least four ambulances and a fire engine. | There is clearly something pretty serious going on inside the jail. I have been here all morning and seen a number of vehicles going inside - at least four ambulances and a fire engine. |
We've been talking to prisoners we have seen coming out of the prison and a man waiting for his son. | We've been talking to prisoners we have seen coming out of the prison and a man waiting for his son. |
He told me that a riot started because of a lack of hot water for inmates. A prison officer was called to the scene and he was threatened with a syringe and his keys stolen which ultimately led to a full scale riot. | He told me that a riot started because of a lack of hot water for inmates. A prison officer was called to the scene and he was threatened with a syringe and his keys stolen which ultimately led to a full scale riot. |
G4S say it is working with the Ministry of Justice to bring the situation to a conclusion. All staff have been accounted for but we are yet get any confirmed reports on any injuries. | G4S say it is working with the Ministry of Justice to bring the situation to a conclusion. All staff have been accounted for but we are yet get any confirmed reports on any injuries. |
About 15 people carrying a kit bags and wearing G4S boiler suits were seen going into the the prison on Friday afternoon. | |
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 09:00 GMT 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 09:00 GMT 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". |