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Riot officers sent to deal with incident at Hertfordshire prison Riot officers sent to deal with incident at Hertfordshire prison
(35 minutes later)
Specialist riot-trained officers are dealing with an incident involving a number of inmates at a prison in Hertfordshire, following a warning two days ago that “trouble was brewing”. Specialist riot-trained officers are dealing with an incident involving a number of inmates at a prison in Hertfordshire, following a warning two days ago that “trouble was brewing”. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the officers were called to the Mount, a category C prison, near the village of Bovingdon.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the officers were called to The Mount, a category C prison, near the village of Bovingdon. A spokeswoman said: “Specially trained staff are working to resolve an incident involving a number of prisoners at HMP the Mount. The prison is completely secure and there is no risk to the public.”
A spokeswoman said: “Specially trained staff are working to resolve an incident involving a number of prisoners at HMP The Mount. The prison is completely secure and there is no risk to the public.” The BBC said sources claimed that one wing and half of another were “lost” and that a command suite had been set up around 2pm on Monday.
The BBC said sources claimed one wing and half of another were “lost” and a command suite was set up around 2pm on Monday.
The prison scored the second lowest of four possible ratings in the National Offender Management Service’s (NOMS) annual prison performance review last week, which said overall performance was “of concern”.The prison scored the second lowest of four possible ratings in the National Offender Management Service’s (NOMS) annual prison performance review last week, which said overall performance was “of concern”.
Former prisoner and author Alex Cavendish warned two days ago that staff shortages were causing problems. On Monday he said Tornado squads, equipped to deal with riots, had been sent in. He said that he had been informed that two wings, housing 227 prisoners, were out of control.Former prisoner and author Alex Cavendish warned two days ago that staff shortages were causing problems. On Monday he said Tornado squads, equipped to deal with riots, had been sent in. He said that he had been informed that two wings, housing 227 prisoners, were out of control.
On Saturday Cavendish tweeted:On Saturday Cavendish tweeted:
Staff shortages at HMP The Mount (Herts) are so severe that this is 3rd weekend of total lockdown. Meals given at cell door. Trouble brewing pic.twitter.com/n6Ndj9TWkEStaff shortages at HMP The Mount (Herts) are so severe that this is 3rd weekend of total lockdown. Meals given at cell door. Trouble brewing pic.twitter.com/n6Ndj9TWkE
On Monday he added:On Monday he added:
HMP The Mount: inside sources stating that too many young, inexperienced officers had been deployed. Prison has been on brink for weeks.HMP The Mount: inside sources stating that too many young, inexperienced officers had been deployed. Prison has been on brink for weeks.
He said a source claimed the prison has “been running on very restricted regime for weeks” because of shortages of “nearly 50 staff”.He said a source claimed the prison has “been running on very restricted regime for weeks” because of shortages of “nearly 50 staff”.
The prison opened in 1987 on the site of a former RAF station and provides training and resettlement programmes for more than 1,000 men serving the last six months of their sentences. They are mainly from Hertfordshire and the surrounding area.The prison opened in 1987 on the site of a former RAF station and provides training and resettlement programmes for more than 1,000 men serving the last six months of their sentences. They are mainly from Hertfordshire and the surrounding area.
The MoJ said the regime includes full and part-time education, workshops and training courses. There are also farms and gardens at the prison.The MoJ said the regime includes full and part-time education, workshops and training courses. There are also farms and gardens at the prison.
The partner of one inmate told the Guardian that conditions at the prison had deteriorated recently. The partner of one inmate told the Guardian that conditions at the prison had deteriorated recently. She said: ‘There’s been a general decline in staffing levels for three months. Visits have been a nightmare. They’ve not been allowed out of their cells because of staff shortages.”
She said: ‘There’s been a general decline in staffing levels for three months. Visits have been a nightmare. They’ve not been allowed out of their cells because of staff shortages.” Her partner told her he was worried that there would be trouble. She said: “ I think this weekend has been the catalyst because people were not allowed out [of their cells]. There’s been no showers this weekend.”
Her partner told her he was worried there would be trouble. She said: “ I think this weekend has been the catalyst because people were not allowed out (of their cells). There’s been no showers this weekend.” The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve been noticing that he’s hungry. As far as I’m aware, the food situation is terrible. They are being given lunch in their cells. In the evening they are getting a baguette, an apple and a biscuit.”
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous said: “I’ve been noticing that he’s hungry. As far as I’m aware the food situation is terrible. They are being given lunch in their cells. In the evening they are getting a baguette, an apple and a biscuit.”