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Long Lartin: Inquiry ordered into prison disturbance | Long Lartin: Inquiry ordered into prison disturbance |
(about 4 hours later) | |
An inquiry has been ordered into a disturbance at a high-security prison. | An inquiry has been ordered into a disturbance at a high-security prison. |
The BBC understands staff were attacked with pool balls during the disorder which involved 81 inmates at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire. | The BBC understands staff were attacked with pool balls during the disorder which involved 81 inmates at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire. |
The disorder, which was resolved by 04:30 BST on Thursday, was contained within a single wing, with no injuries to staff or prisoners. | The disorder, which was resolved by 04:30 BST on Thursday, was contained within a single wing, with no injuries to staff or prisoners. |
Justice Minister Sam Gyimah MP said an investigation was expected to take a "number of weeks". | Justice Minister Sam Gyimah MP said an investigation was expected to take a "number of weeks". |
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Gyimah said: "The incident is, of course, of concern and we will need to properly investigate what drove the actions of a relatively small number of individuals. | Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Gyimah said: "The incident is, of course, of concern and we will need to properly investigate what drove the actions of a relatively small number of individuals. |
"That will take a number of weeks to ensure all intelligence is properly examined and that we learn lessons and apply them to prevent any recurrence. | "That will take a number of weeks to ensure all intelligence is properly examined and that we learn lessons and apply them to prevent any recurrence. |
"We cannot speculate on the cause of this incident but we know the prison was running a full regime and that this was not linked to any shortfall in prison officer staffing levels." | "We cannot speculate on the cause of this incident but we know the prison was running a full regime and that this was not linked to any shortfall in prison officer staffing levels." |
Conservative peer Lord Spicer, who represented the South Worcestershire seat for nearly 25 years, said in response to the inquiry being ordered: "I think it's [Long Lartin] terribly lax in the centre and in some ways it was an accident waiting to happen." | |
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood about 10 "Tornado teams" of riot officers were sent to the prison on Wednesday. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood about 10 "Tornado teams" of riot officers were sent to the prison on Wednesday. |
Eighteen prisoners have since been moved to other jails. | Eighteen prisoners have since been moved to other jails. |
Long Lartin is one of the highest-security prisons in England and Wales, with two-thirds of the inmates serving life sentences. | Long Lartin is one of the highest-security prisons in England and Wales, with two-thirds of the inmates serving life sentences. |
Rob Preece, spokesman for the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the disorder was "concerning... not least because this is the latest in a long line of disturbances in prisons across the country, which is causing great distress to staff, to prisoners and their families". | Rob Preece, spokesman for the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the disorder was "concerning... not least because this is the latest in a long line of disturbances in prisons across the country, which is causing great distress to staff, to prisoners and their families". |
He added: "It will be particularly worrying for the Ministry of Justice because this is the first disturbance of its kind that we have seen in a maximum security prison. | He added: "It will be particularly worrying for the Ministry of Justice because this is the first disturbance of its kind that we have seen in a maximum security prison. |
"We do not expect to see disturbances like that in the high security estates and this will be giving a great deal of cause for concern ." | "We do not expect to see disturbances like that in the high security estates and this will be giving a great deal of cause for concern ." |
The disturbance follows riots at prisons including Lewes, Bedford, Birmingham and Swaleside. | The disturbance follows riots at prisons including Lewes, Bedford, Birmingham and Swaleside. |
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 |
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