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| Specialist officers tackle Ford open prison riots | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Specialist prison officers and firefighters are at Ford open prison near Arundel, West Sussex, after a riot broke out. | |
| The Ministry of Justice said around 40 prisoners began smashing windows and setting fires in some buildings. | The Ministry of Justice said around 40 prisoners began smashing windows and setting fires in some buildings. |
| Prison service staff were forced to retreat but there have been no reports of any injuries to staff or inmates. | Prison service staff were forced to retreat but there have been no reports of any injuries to staff or inmates. |
| The officers have formed a cordon around the area where the trouble took place, while smoke can still be seen. | |
| The inmates involved also set off fire alarms at the prison after the disturbance began at around midnight on New Year's Eve going into New Year's Day. | The inmates involved also set off fire alarms at the prison after the disturbance began at around midnight on New Year's Eve going into New Year's Day. |
| HMP Ford accepts category D offenders who have under two years left to serve on their sentences. | HMP Ford accepts category D offenders who have under two years left to serve on their sentences. |
| BBC correspondent Robert Hall said prison vans were lined up outside the compound, which are expected to move prisoners once the situation had been resolved. | BBC correspondent Robert Hall said prison vans were lined up outside the compound, which are expected to move prisoners once the situation had been resolved. |
| He added that the cause of the violence had not yet been revealed but that were unconfirmed rumours that alcohol had been involved. | He added that the cause of the violence had not yet been revealed but that were unconfirmed rumours that alcohol had been involved. |
| But the cause, he said, was unlikely to be revealed until the authorities felt that the situation had been brought fully under control. | But the cause, he said, was unlikely to be revealed until the authorities felt that the situation had been brought fully under control. |
| The Prison Service website says the institution - which can hold up to 557 inmates - does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or 'restraining' offences. | The Prison Service website says the institution - which can hold up to 557 inmates - does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or 'restraining' offences. |
| The facility is split into two sites which is divided by a main road. One of the sides is mainly residential, while the other generally consists of work spaces. | The facility is split into two sites which is divided by a main road. One of the sides is mainly residential, while the other generally consists of work spaces. |
| Concerns had been raised in the past about the way the prison was operated. | Concerns had been raised in the past about the way the prison was operated. |
| In 2009, the prison's own Independent Monitoring Board said people had been able to smuggle in drugs, alcohol and mobile phones. | In 2009, the prison's own Independent Monitoring Board said people had been able to smuggle in drugs, alcohol and mobile phones. |
| It called for upgraded CCTV for the site to be installed as a priority. | It called for upgraded CCTV for the site to be installed as a priority. |