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Officer hurt in jail disturbance | Officer hurt in jail disturbance |
(40 minutes later) | |
A prison officer was taken to hospital with head and facial injuries after a disturbance broke out at Scotland's newest prison. | A prison officer was taken to hospital with head and facial injuries after a disturbance broke out at Scotland's newest prison. |
Emergency services were called to Addiewell Prison in West Lothian after up to 10 prisoners rioted on Monday. | Emergency services were called to Addiewell Prison in West Lothian after up to 10 prisoners rioted on Monday. |
The 29-year-old officer was taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston at about 1950 GMT. | The 29-year-old officer was taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston at about 1950 GMT. |
His injuries are not thought to have been serious. The incident was brought under control a short time later. | |
It is understood the disturbance was sparked by an inmate being told his methadone was to be reduced. | It is understood the disturbance was sparked by an inmate being told his methadone was to be reduced. |
A spokesman for private company Kalyx, which manages HMP Addiewell for the Scottish Prison Service, said: "We can confirm there was an incident in one of the wings. | A spokesman for private company Kalyx, which manages HMP Addiewell for the Scottish Prison Service, said: "We can confirm there was an incident in one of the wings. |
"It was brought under control last night. One prison officer was injured." | "It was brought under control last night. One prison officer was injured." |
To make a profit the only place you can cut corners is on staffing Clive FairweatherFormer chief inspector of prisons | |
Two ambulance special operations response teams stood by outside the jail from 2030 GMT until 0100 GMT following reports of an ongoing riot in the prison. | Two ambulance special operations response teams stood by outside the jail from 2030 GMT until 0100 GMT following reports of an ongoing riot in the prison. |
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service also waited outside until shortly after midnight after a fire alarm inside the jail was set off at about 1930 GMT. | Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service also waited outside until shortly after midnight after a fire alarm inside the jail was set off at about 1930 GMT. |
A former chief inspector of prisons in Scotland told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that he believed some prisoners were taking advantage of lower staffing levels in privately-run jails. | |
Clive Fairweather, who has previously inspected the private prison at Kilmarnock, said they had to make a profit, which can put pressure on staff numbers and training. | |
He added: "The difference between a privately-run prison and the rest of the prison estate is that first and foremost it's innovative and really has cutting-edge systems, but it comes with a bit of a problem which the governor always has to overcome, which is it's got to make a profit. | |
"To make a profit the only place you can cut corners is on staffing. | |
"Therefore you have the minimum number of staff, you have the minimum amount of training and it's certainly my experience with Kilmarnock that violence and the like was a problem until eventually staffing levels got to a slightly better stage." | |
Segregation unit | |
Mr Fairweather said prisoners in jails such as Addiewell and Kilmarnock have "never had it so good". | |
But he added: "They didn't want to go anywhere else, but they are taking advantage of the fact there aren't the same staffing levels as there are in other major prisons. | |
"Indeed, were there to be major riots in somewhere like Addiewell or Kilmarnock, I'm pretty certain the riot shields and those to deal with it would actually have to come from the rest of the SPS." | |
HMP Addiewell opened in December 2008 and holds up to 700 prisoners. | HMP Addiewell opened in December 2008 and holds up to 700 prisoners. |
A prison officer needed hospital treatment after a disturbance involving about 20 inmates in October last year. | A prison officer needed hospital treatment after a disturbance involving about 20 inmates in October last year. |
In February five men were placed in a segregation unit after a three-hour disturbance, during which one cell was damaged by fire. | In February five men were placed in a segregation unit after a three-hour disturbance, during which one cell was damaged by fire. |