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Swaleside prison: Sixty inmates take control of wing Swaleside prison: Sixty inmates take control of wing
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Sixty inmates have taken control of a wing at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. Dozens of inmates have taken control of a wing at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
The Prison Officers Association said there is an "ongoing disturbance" at the category B training prison. "We are not sure how bad it is yet but we understand 60 prisoners have taken control of 'A' wing there," the Prison Officers Association (POA) chairman Mike Rolfe said.
Chairman Mike Rolfe said: "There is an ongoing disturbance there [at Swaleside]. We are not sure how bad it is yet but we understand 60 prisoners have taken control of 'A' wing there. He added that "some fires have been lit" at the category B prison.
"Some fires have been lit, apparently, and basically we know that it's an ongoing incident." It comes after up to six hundred prisoners took over four wings of Birmingham Prison last week. Experts described the takeover as the worst disorder of its kind since the 1990 Strangeways riot in Manchester.
It comes after hundreds of prisons took over four wings of Birmingham Prison last week. An HM Inspectorate of Prisons report in July described HMP Swaleside as "dangerous" and found levels of violence were "far too high", with many of the incidents serious.
An HM Inspectorate of Prisons report in July described HMP Swaleside as "dangerous" and found levels of violence were "far too high", with many of the incidents serious.
A survey found 69 per cent of inmates had felt unsafe at some point - a result which was significantly higher than at similar facilities.A survey found 69 per cent of inmates had felt unsafe at some point - a result which was significantly higher than at similar facilities.
More than half (52 per cent) of prisoners polled said it was easy or very easy to get drugs at the prison, while 45 per cent said the same about alcohol.More than half (52 per cent) of prisoners polled said it was easy or very easy to get drugs at the prison, while 45 per cent said the same about alcohol.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons also said the use of force was high, while the segregation unit was described as "filthy".HM Inspectorate of Prisons also said the use of force was high, while the segregation unit was described as "filthy".
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