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| Hull prison 'on brink of riot' after inmates arrive from Birmingham | |
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| Hull prison is on the brink of riot and has been put on lockdown after CCTV cameras were allegedly set alight by 15 inmates who took part in the large-scale disorder at HMP Birmingham, the chair of the Prison Officers’ Association has said. | Hull prison is on the brink of riot and has been put on lockdown after CCTV cameras were allegedly set alight by 15 inmates who took part in the large-scale disorder at HMP Birmingham, the chair of the Prison Officers’ Association has said. |
| Mike Rolfe said trouble flared after the prisoners arrived at the category B jail from the Midlands. “We understand 15 prisoners were transferred to Hull and one of those prisoners, thought to be involved in inciting the riots along with others at Birmingham, assaulted a senior officer yesterday,” Rolfe told the Guardian. | Mike Rolfe said trouble flared after the prisoners arrived at the category B jail from the Midlands. “We understand 15 prisoners were transferred to Hull and one of those prisoners, thought to be involved in inciting the riots along with others at Birmingham, assaulted a senior officer yesterday,” Rolfe told the Guardian. |
| The Prison Officers’ Association claimed that inmates at HMP Hull were under lockdown, with only a few allowed out of their cells at a time. The union said CCTV cameras were set on fire and that some inmates had refused to return to their cells after the arrival of the 15 men. | The Prison Officers’ Association claimed that inmates at HMP Hull were under lockdown, with only a few allowed out of their cells at a time. The union said CCTV cameras were set on fire and that some inmates had refused to return to their cells after the arrival of the 15 men. |
| Rob Nicholson, chairman of the Hull branch of the Prison Officers’ Association, told the Hull Daily Mail: “It is a powder keg and it’s waiting to go off. They are trying to incite riots and we’ve had a really bad couple of days here. I’ve spoken to very experienced prison officers this morning and they tell me they fear for their safety.” | Rob Nicholson, chairman of the Hull branch of the Prison Officers’ Association, told the Hull Daily Mail: “It is a powder keg and it’s waiting to go off. They are trying to incite riots and we’ve had a really bad couple of days here. I’ve spoken to very experienced prison officers this morning and they tell me they fear for their safety.” |
| Nicholson added: “They were put in one unit, which beggars belief. We wouldn’t have expected the majority of people who have come from a disturbance to be put in the one room, but that was the decision that was taken. | Nicholson added: “They were put in one unit, which beggars belief. We wouldn’t have expected the majority of people who have come from a disturbance to be put in the one room, but that was the decision that was taken. |
| “For me and my members, it was a ludicrous decision. They set fire to the cameras just after they got here and a senior officer was assaulted by, we believe, one of the main instigators of what happened in Birmingham.” | “For me and my members, it was a ludicrous decision. They set fire to the cameras just after they got here and a senior officer was assaulted by, we believe, one of the main instigators of what happened in Birmingham.” |
| A Ministry of Justice source disputed claims that the prison was on lockdown. He said one prisoner had tried to damage a CCTV camera, but denied that several had been set alight. “A few prisoners were unhappy about being moved and there was a minor altercation, but this was dealt with well by the staff,” the source said. | A Ministry of Justice source disputed claims that the prison was on lockdown. He said one prisoner had tried to damage a CCTV camera, but denied that several had been set alight. “A few prisoners were unhappy about being moved and there was a minor altercation, but this was dealt with well by the staff,” the source said. |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “HMP Hull, like all prisons across the estate, is being closely monitored for signs of potential unrest. That includes managing the transfer of prisoners in the interests of maintaining safe, calm and normal regimes. We have specially trained prison staff available to respond to any disturbances.” | A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “HMP Hull, like all prisons across the estate, is being closely monitored for signs of potential unrest. That includes managing the transfer of prisoners in the interests of maintaining safe, calm and normal regimes. We have specially trained prison staff available to respond to any disturbances.” |
| The disturbance at Hull follows the 12-hour riots at HMP Birmingham on Friday, described as the worst prison riot since Strangeways 25 years ago. | The disturbance at Hull follows the 12-hour riots at HMP Birmingham on Friday, described as the worst prison riot since Strangeways 25 years ago. |
| Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Hull East, said: “I have it on good authority that Hull prison is on the brink of a riot. And clearly, this chaos has been caused by the government, no one else. Since 2010, they’ve slashed the numbers of prison officers by 7,000 and, clearly, the prison system cannot cope. They’re replaced highly experienced prison officers with people who are inexperienced in order to save cash. | Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Hull East, said: “I have it on good authority that Hull prison is on the brink of a riot. And clearly, this chaos has been caused by the government, no one else. Since 2010, they’ve slashed the numbers of prison officers by 7,000 and, clearly, the prison system cannot cope. They’re replaced highly experienced prison officers with people who are inexperienced in order to save cash. |
| “This chaos has been caused by the government and Liz Truss needs to do more to resolve the issue. They need to put money into the prison system urgently and they need to recruit … It’s not good enough for the coalition to sack 7,000 experienced officers and then announce the recruitment of 2,500 between now and 2020. This chaos is entirely made by the government. It’s the government policy – cut now and think later – that’s failed prison officers and prisons.” | “This chaos has been caused by the government and Liz Truss needs to do more to resolve the issue. They need to put money into the prison system urgently and they need to recruit … It’s not good enough for the coalition to sack 7,000 experienced officers and then announce the recruitment of 2,500 between now and 2020. This chaos is entirely made by the government. It’s the government policy – cut now and think later – that’s failed prison officers and prisons.” |