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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| Prison riot still out of control | Prison riot still out of control |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Specialist prison officers are trying to bring a "violent" riot at Ashwell prison in Rutland under control. | |
| The Prison Officers Association (POA) said about 250 prisoners had not yet surrendered after a disturbance started at about midnight. | The Prison Officers Association (POA) said about 250 prisoners had not yet surrendered after a disturbance started at about midnight. |
| It is thought the riot started after prisoners had their privileges removed. | It is thought the riot started after prisoners had their privileges removed. |
| Glyn Travis from the POA said: "We have still got a serious number of disturbances within the prison that haven't been brought under control." | Glyn Travis from the POA said: "We have still got a serious number of disturbances within the prison that haven't been brought under control." |
| Police have secured a three-mile perimeter around the category C jail near Oakham. | Police have secured a three-mile perimeter around the category C jail near Oakham. |
| Prisons are "bursting at the seams", according to Glyn Travis | Prisons are "bursting at the seams", according to Glyn Travis |
| Smoke has been seen coming out of the prison on Saturday and fire engines remain at the scene. | Smoke has been seen coming out of the prison on Saturday and fire engines remain at the scene. |
| Mr Travis said: "We're not quite sure what these prisoners have armed themselves with because they've had access to the works department and the healthcare centre. | Mr Travis said: "We're not quite sure what these prisoners have armed themselves with because they've had access to the works department and the healthcare centre. |
| "We don't know if they're under the influence of drugs and whether they've made some serious weapons, so we've got to be extremely careful. | "We don't know if they're under the influence of drugs and whether they've made some serious weapons, so we've got to be extremely careful. |
| "We've also got to make sure that prisoners who may have been hiding within buildings are safe." | "We've also got to make sure that prisoners who may have been hiding within buildings are safe." |
| He said a decision to remove privileges from some prisoners had led to the incident. | He said a decision to remove privileges from some prisoners had led to the incident. |
| "One of those prisoners was not happy with that decision and around midnight he decided to incite other prisoners to react and that's what started the riot. | "One of those prisoners was not happy with that decision and around midnight he decided to incite other prisoners to react and that's what started the riot. |
| "It moved on from there to a situation which became extremely dangerous and violent." | "It moved on from there to a situation which became extremely dangerous and violent." |
| A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman confirmed there had been "concerted indiscipline" from a number of prisoners at the jail. | A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman confirmed there had been "concerted indiscipline" from a number of prisoners at the jail. |
| The BBC's Barnie Choudhury said it is understood some prisoners have been transported out of the jail - just after noon a prison van left with loud banging coming from inside. | The BBC's Barnie Choudhury said it is understood some prisoners have been transported out of the jail - just after noon a prison van left with loud banging coming from inside. |
| Only residents are being allowed to pass through the police cordon around the site. | Only residents are being allowed to pass through the police cordon around the site. |
| Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, said the association had warned that this type of disturbance might occur. | Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, said the association had warned that this type of disturbance might occur. |
| He said: "The current prison population and lack of appropriate prison places has resulted in prisoners being transferred away from their homes and put in lower category prisons resulting in more drugs, violence and gang cultures in our prisons. | He said: "The current prison population and lack of appropriate prison places has resulted in prisoners being transferred away from their homes and put in lower category prisons resulting in more drugs, violence and gang cultures in our prisons. |
| "The drive for savings has led to fewer staff, a reduction in regime and offending behaviour programmes being cancelled. End result unhappy and bored prisoners." | "The drive for savings has led to fewer staff, a reduction in regime and offending behaviour programmes being cancelled. End result unhappy and bored prisoners." |
| We don't feel threatened and it's normally quite peaceful Resident Nick Crossfield | We don't feel threatened and it's normally quite peaceful Resident Nick Crossfield |
| Shadow Justice spokesman Edward Garnier has called upon the government to rethink the way it accommodates prisoners. | Shadow Justice spokesman Edward Garnier has called upon the government to rethink the way it accommodates prisoners. |
| "My experience is that our prisons are woefully overcrowded. That is the rock upon which the prison system is floundering at the minute. | "My experience is that our prisons are woefully overcrowded. That is the rock upon which the prison system is floundering at the minute. |
| "Because of overcrowding, category B prisoners - that's to say, the most serious prisoners - are being pushed down into the category C estate and category C prisoners are being pushed out to early into the open prison estate." | "Because of overcrowding, category B prisoners - that's to say, the most serious prisoners - are being pushed down into the category C estate and category C prisoners are being pushed out to early into the open prison estate." |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said that Ashwell was not overcrowded and only housed category C prisoners. | A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said that Ashwell was not overcrowded and only housed category C prisoners. |
| "Prisoners are categorised according to their risk and held in the most appropriate location after a thorough assessment. | "Prisoners are categorised according to their risk and held in the most appropriate location after a thorough assessment. |
| "It is simply untrue that HMP Ashwell, a Category C prison, is holding any Category B prisoners. HMP Ashwell has had no reduction in officer numbers over the last year." | "It is simply untrue that HMP Ashwell, a Category C prison, is holding any Category B prisoners. HMP Ashwell has had no reduction in officer numbers over the last year." |
| Nick Crossfield, who lives near the prison, said there was a lot of police activity at the site and he could hear inmates shouting. He said: "We don't feel threatened and it's normally quite peaceful. | Nick Crossfield, who lives near the prison, said there was a lot of police activity at the site and he could hear inmates shouting. He said: "We don't feel threatened and it's normally quite peaceful. |
| "We don't normally get this kind of activity around here." | "We don't normally get this kind of activity around here." |
| The prison, built on a former Army camp, started as an open prison in 1955 and was converted to a category C jail in 1987. | The prison, built on a former Army camp, started as an open prison in 1955 and was converted to a category C jail in 1987. |
| It has a maximum capacity of 619 inmates and is one-and-a-half miles from Oakham. | It has a maximum capacity of 619 inmates and is one-and-a-half miles from Oakham. |