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Long Lartin: Prison staff 'attacked with pool balls' | Long Lartin: Prison staff 'attacked with pool balls' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Up to 80 prisoners have attacked staff with pool balls at a high-security prison, the BBC understands. | Up to 80 prisoners have attacked staff with pool balls at a high-security prison, the BBC understands. |
A source said staff at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire had retreated from E wing after inmates became violent. | A source said staff at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire had retreated from E wing after inmates became violent. |
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood about 10 "tornado teams" of riot officers had been sent to the prison. | BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood about 10 "tornado teams" of riot officers had been sent to the prison. |
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said: "We are currently managing an ongoing incident at HMP Long Lartin." | The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said: "We are currently managing an ongoing incident at HMP Long Lartin." |
"We are absolutely clear that offenders who behave in this way will be punished and face spending extra time behind bars," the statement added. | "We are absolutely clear that offenders who behave in this way will be punished and face spending extra time behind bars," the statement added. |
Our correspondent said there had previously been serious violence in local and training prisons, but to have a disturbance like this at a high-security jail would cause alarm at the MoJ. | Our correspondent said there had previously been serious violence in local and training prisons, but to have a disturbance like this at a high-security jail would cause alarm at the MoJ. |
He said staff on E wing had retreated and it had been secured, so the troublemakers could not go elsewhere. | |
There is also believed to be a separate protest elsewhere in the jail, our correspondent said. | There is also believed to be a separate protest elsewhere in the jail, our correspondent said. |
The disturbance is the latest in a series of large-scale disorders at prisons around the country. | |
It follows riots at a number of jails in recent years, including Lewes, Bedford, Birmingham and Swaleside. | |
Analysis | Analysis |
Daniel Sandford, home affairs correspondent | Daniel Sandford, home affairs correspondent |
Any disturbance at a prison is worrying, but at Long Lartin it's particularly worrying. | Any disturbance at a prison is worrying, but at Long Lartin it's particularly worrying. |
It's one of the highest-security prisons in England and Wales; two-thirds of the inmates are serving life sentences. | It's one of the highest-security prisons in England and Wales; two-thirds of the inmates are serving life sentences. |
Normally the higher staffing ratios and older age of the prisoners means you get less trouble. | Normally the higher staffing ratios and older age of the prisoners means you get less trouble. |
But like all prisons, Long Lartin has suffered cuts and has lost a fifth of its staff. | But like all prisons, Long Lartin has suffered cuts and has lost a fifth of its staff. |
They are recruiting, but it's a prison on the edge. | |
HMP Long Lartin is a maximum security jail which also holds up to 622 male inmates. | HMP Long Lartin is a maximum security jail which also holds up to 622 male inmates. |
The category A prison has housed a number of high-profile inmates, including radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza and murderer Christopher Halliwell. | The category A prison has housed a number of high-profile inmates, including radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza and murderer Christopher Halliwell. |
Four prisoners have been killed at the jail in the last four years. | Four prisoners have been killed at the jail in the last four years. |
Child murderer Subhan Anwar was strangled in 2013, while killer John York was beaten to death in his cell in 2015. | Child murderer Subhan Anwar was strangled in 2013, while killer John York was beaten to death in his cell in 2015. |
In June 2016, Sidonio Eugenio Teixeira was killed using a rock wrapped in a pair of socks. | In June 2016, Sidonio Eugenio Teixeira was killed using a rock wrapped in a pair of socks. |
Two inmates who murdered a fellow prisoner were jailed for life last month. | Two inmates who murdered a fellow prisoner were jailed for life last month. |
An inspection report published in 2014 described a "calm, well controlled prison". | An inspection report published in 2014 described a "calm, well controlled prison". |
"But, while violence and bullying were few, there continued to be some very serious incidents," it added. | "But, while violence and bullying were few, there continued to be some very serious incidents," it added. |
Have you witnessed these events? E-mail us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you witnessed these events? E-mail us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |