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Disturbance breaks out at prison Disturbance breaks out at prison
(40 minutes later)
Riot-trained officers have been sent to deal with an ongoing disturbance at a prison in Rutland. About 400 prisoners are involved in a disturbance at a prison in Rutland, the Prison Officers Association (POA) said.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said there had been "concerted indiscipline" at HMP Ashwell involving a number of prisoners at the category C jail. The POA confirmed riot-trained officers had been called to the incident at HMP Ashwell, which is thought to have started on Friday.
The Prisoner Officers Association confirmed riot officers had been called in, as part of Operation Tornado. A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said there had been "concerted indiscipline" from a number of prisoners at the category C jail.
A three-mile police perimeter has been set up around the jail, which is one-and-a-half miles from Oakham. A three-mile police perimeter has been set up around the jail near Oakham.
The BBC's Barnie Choudhury said it is understood some prisoners have been transported out of 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.
Smoke has been seen coming from the site and fire crews have been called in. Fire engines remain outside the front entrance of the prison and a police helicopter is hovering overhead.
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.
Nick Crossfield, who lives near the prison said there was a lot of police activity at the site and could hear inmates shouting. 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.
"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."
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.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."
Jim Harrison, who drove by the scene earlier, said: "I saw a lot of fire engines there, a lot of police officers.
"There are also police officers stood around the edges of Oakham."
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.
In 2003, computers, office equipment and windows were smashed by four prisoners who barricaded themselves into a room at a Leicestershire prison.In 2003, computers, office equipment and windows were smashed by four prisoners who barricaded themselves into a room at a Leicestershire prison.