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Specialist officers tackle Ford open prison riots Specialist officers tackle Ford open prison riot
(40 minutes later)
Specialist prison officers and firefighters are at Ford open prison near Arundel, West Sussex, after a riot broke out. Specialist prison guards in body armour have been tackling rioting inmates at an open jail in West Sussex.
The Ministry of Justice said around 40 prisoners began smashing windows and setting fires in some buildings. Firefighters were also sent to HMP Ford after 40 prisoners smashed windows and started blazes at around midnight.
Prison service staff were forced to retreat but there have been no reports of any injuries to staff or inmates. The fire service remains on standby after the fires, which were thought to be confined to one block, spread to another.
The officers have formed a cordon around the area where the trouble took place, while smoke can still be seen. The Prison Officers' Association said the violence started after staff tried to breathalyse prisoners.
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 Prison Service says that one of the two wings at HMP Ford has been brought back under control and 140 extra staff had been sent to assist at the scene.
Prison service staff were forced to retreat when the riots first broke out but there have been no reports of any injuries to staff or inmates as yet.
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.
The Prison Service spokesperson said: "We can confirm that around 140 additional prison service staff have arrived at Ford to support the local staff in bringing the prison under full control.
"This is not an indication that the situation is escalating but is a pre-planned intervention in line with standard practice.
"One of the two wings was back under prison staff control by 10.40am and there is no indication that the situation is escalating on the second wing.
"The fire brigade has been into the prison and the fires have been contained. The fire brigade have now left the prison."
"The causes of the disturbance are not yet known and will be subject to an investigation."
Mark Freeman from the Prison Officers' Association (POA) told the BBC: "I understand that a headcount has now been carried out on one of the wings, which has proved to be correct.
"They are still yet to enter the area where the main part of the riot occurred. My understanding is that will happen later in the day as they need to account for the prisoners in that section."
Staff shortages
The union said that alcohol was believed to have played a part in the violence, and that staff shortages and prisoners who had been wrongly categorised added to local difficulties.
Mr Freeman added: "We believe alcohol has played a large part in this.
"Over the past few nights prisoners have been reluctant to be breathalysed by staff. The staff have been chasing them round the blocks trying to breathalyse them, which is sort of reminiscent of the end scene from Benny Hill to me.
"And the fact is that this is what kicked it off last night was breathalysing the inmates. They didn't want to be breathalysed and the riot kicked off in the early hours of this morning.
"It has been a concern for a long, long time - the amount of alcohol that prisoners are able to get here at Ford. I understand that over 40 bottles of alcohol have been found empty - a great problem."
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. Prison vans are lined up outside the compound, which are expected to move prisoners once the situation has 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.
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 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.