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Long Lartin: Prison staff 'attacked with pool balls' Long Lartin: Prison staff 'attacked with pool balls'
(about 5 hours later)
Staff were attacked with pool balls during a disturbance at a high-security prison, the BBC understands.Staff were attacked with pool balls during a disturbance at a high-security prison, the BBC understands.
Up to 80 inmates at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire became violent, forcing staff to retreat, a source said. A total of 81 inmates at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire became violent, forcing staff to retreat, a source said.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood about 10 "Tornado teams" of riot officers were sent to the prison on Wednesday. By 04:30 BST the disturbance was resolved with no injuries.
The Prison Service said the incident had been "successfully resolved" by Thursday morning. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood about 10 "Tornado teams" of riot officers had been sent to the prison on Wednesday.
No staff or inmates were injured, it said. Eighteen prisoners have now been moved to other jails.
"We do not tolerate violence in our prisons, and are clear that those responsible will be referred to the police and could spend longer behind bars," it added. The disturbance at the maximum security jail should be "ringing alarm bells at the most senior level", the Prison Governors Association [PGA] said.
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. John Attard, national officer for the group, said the trouble was symptomatic of cutbacks and changes in the Prison Service management structure.
He said staff on E wing had retreated and it had been secured, so the troublemakers could not go elsewhere. He said: "Last year the PGA called for an independent public inquiry into the state of our prisons due to cuts ... It fell on deaf ears. That call has not gone away.
"I think we've dodged a bullet on this. They brought this under control very quickly and it's fantastic that they've dealt with it."
Separate protest
Our correspondent said staff on E wing had retreated, after inmates started throwing pool balls, but it had been secured so the troublemakers could not go elsewhere.
There were also reports of a separate protest elsewhere in the jail, our correspondent said.There were also reports of a separate protest elsewhere in the jail, our correspondent said.
The disturbance followed riots at a number of jails in recent years, including Lewes, Bedford, Birmingham and Swaleside. The disturbance followed riots at prisons including Lewes, Bedford, Birmingham and Swaleside.
Five inmates who started a 15-hour riot that caused more than £6m damage at HMP Birmingham in December were sentenced earlier this month.
Also in December, part of a prison wing was taken over by about 60 inmates at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
Long Lartin has housed a number of high-profile inmates, including radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza and murderer Christopher Halliwell.
AnalysisAnalysis
Daniel Sandford, home affairs correspondentDaniel 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.
HMP Long Lartin is a maximum security jail which also holds up to 622 male inmates. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "Specially trained prison staff successfully resolved an incident at HMP Long Lartin on 12 October. There were no injuries to staff or prisoners.
The category A prison has housed a number of high-profile inmates, including radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza and murderer Christopher Halliwell. "We do not tolerate violence in our prisons, and are clear that those responsible will be referred to the police and could spend longer behind bars."
Four prisoners have been killed at the jail in the last four years. Four prisoners have been killed at Long Lartin, which holds up to 622 male inmates, 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.
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