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| Elite prison squad deployed to jails 580 times last year | Elite prison squad deployed to jails 580 times last year |
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| An elite group of specially trained prison officers had to be deployed to jails in England and Wales 580 times last year, figures show. | An elite group of specially trained prison officers had to be deployed to jails in England and Wales 580 times last year, figures show. |
| Members of the national tactical response group (NTRG) were sent to incidents including a riot at HMP Birmingham, as well as hostage situations and “incidents at height”. | Members of the national tactical response group (NTRG) were sent to incidents including a riot at HMP Birmingham, as well as hostage situations and “incidents at height”. |
| The number of callouts to prisons has been increasing year-on-year, according to the figures, which were released by the Ministry of Justice after a freedom of information request by the Press Association. | The number of callouts to prisons has been increasing year-on-year, according to the figures, which were released by the Ministry of Justice after a freedom of information request by the Press Association. |
| The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said the data showed the reality of prisons needing national support to maintain security and control after “year-on-year budget cuts”. | The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said the data showed the reality of prisons needing national support to maintain security and control after “year-on-year budget cuts”. |
| Labour said the data underlined just how counterproductive Tory cuts to the prison service have been, leading to “an epidemic of violence” in jails. But the MoJ said a majority of the deployments were to non-violent incidents and were often precautionary. | Labour said the data underlined just how counterproductive Tory cuts to the prison service have been, leading to “an epidemic of violence” in jails. But the MoJ said a majority of the deployments were to non-violent incidents and were often precautionary. |
| In 2010, the NTRG were called to jails 118 times, while in 2014 there were 223 callouts, with the figure rising to more than 340 in 2015. The 40-member squad had already been deployed 110 times from January to April this year, according to the most recent figures available. | In 2010, the NTRG were called to jails 118 times, while in 2014 there were 223 callouts, with the figure rising to more than 340 in 2015. The 40-member squad had already been deployed 110 times from January to April this year, according to the most recent figures available. |
| Incidents included occasions of “concerted indiscipline”, barricade events and incidents at height, such as when a prisoner climbs on to a cell block’s anti-suicide netting or an internal roof. | Incidents included occasions of “concerted indiscipline”, barricade events and incidents at height, such as when a prisoner climbs on to a cell block’s anti-suicide netting or an internal roof. |
| During their busiest month in May 2016, the NTRG were sent out 67 times to 39 jails, dealing with inmate disorder, hostage events and incidents at height, among others. In the case of two jails – HMP Lindholme in Doncaster and HMP Nottingham – the specialists had to be called in nearly every month last year. | During their busiest month in May 2016, the NTRG were sent out 67 times to 39 jails, dealing with inmate disorder, hostage events and incidents at height, among others. In the case of two jails – HMP Lindholme in Doncaster and HMP Nottingham – the specialists had to be called in nearly every month last year. |
| Separately, figures showed so-called Tornado teams – separate to the NTRG – were deployed 19 times last year, compared with 15 occasions in 2015 and seven in 2010. | Separately, figures showed so-called Tornado teams – separate to the NTRG – were deployed 19 times last year, compared with 15 occasions in 2015 and seven in 2010. |
| In the seven months to July this year, Tornado squads had been sent to 10 incidents. Of those, eight happened in the July, involving HMP Humber in Yorkshire, HMP Hewell in Worcestershire, HMP Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire, and HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire. | In the seven months to July this year, Tornado squads had been sent to 10 incidents. Of those, eight happened in the July, involving HMP Humber in Yorkshire, HMP Hewell in Worcestershire, HMP Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire, and HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire. |
| The figures do not include more recent problems with disorder, including at the high-security HMP Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire where Tornado teams were confronted by dozens of prisoners in October. | The figures do not include more recent problems with disorder, including at the high-security HMP Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire where Tornado teams were confronted by dozens of prisoners in October. |
| Commenting on the figures, the POA said: “The POA are not shocked by the numbers of callouts as this demonstrates that prisons are in need of national support to maintain security and control. However, the figures can be distorted due to some callouts requiring nationally trained staff. | Commenting on the figures, the POA said: “The POA are not shocked by the numbers of callouts as this demonstrates that prisons are in need of national support to maintain security and control. However, the figures can be distorted due to some callouts requiring nationally trained staff. |
| “The reality is that year-on-year budget cuts have reduced staff and as a result prisoners feel more in charge as organised crime continues to increase.” | “The reality is that year-on-year budget cuts have reduced staff and as a result prisoners feel more in charge as organised crime continues to increase.” |
| Labour’s shadow justice secretary, Richard Burgon, said: “These figures underline how counterproductive the Tories’ cuts to the prison service have been. Deployment of these costly riot squads has soared following the government’s decision to axe thousands of prison officers, which has created an epidemic of violence in our prisons. | Labour’s shadow justice secretary, Richard Burgon, said: “These figures underline how counterproductive the Tories’ cuts to the prison service have been. Deployment of these costly riot squads has soared following the government’s decision to axe thousands of prison officers, which has created an epidemic of violence in our prisons. |
| “This dangerous situation is likely to go from bad to worse given that a quarter of the prisons that the MoJ itself rates as being of concern have experienced a further cut in prison officer numbers over the past year.” | “This dangerous situation is likely to go from bad to worse given that a quarter of the prisons that the MoJ itself rates as being of concern have experienced a further cut in prison officer numbers over the past year.” |
| An MoJ spokesman said: “We have specially trained teams that provide support to prisons on a range of incidents – from offenders climbing onto an internal roof to a large-scale disturbance. The majority of callouts are for non-violent incidents when the officers only attend as a precaution or when the situation was already resolved by prison staff.” | An MoJ spokesman said: “We have specially trained teams that provide support to prisons on a range of incidents – from offenders climbing onto an internal roof to a large-scale disturbance. The majority of callouts are for non-violent incidents when the officers only attend as a precaution or when the situation was already resolved by prison staff.” |
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