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Ford open prison rioters 'must be punished' - minister Ford open prison rioters must be punished - minister
(40 minutes later)
There must be no repeat of the violent scenes witnessed at an open prison in West Sussex over the New Year holiday, the prisons minister has said. There must be no repeat of the violence which broke out at an open prison in West Sussex over the New Year holiday, the prisons minister has said.
Crispin Blunt said those involved in causing the riot at HMP Ford, near Arundel, "must be brought to justice".Crispin Blunt said those involved in causing the riot at HMP Ford, near Arundel, "must be brought to justice".
He spent two hours at the site and said he expected a police investigation as well as a Prison Service inquiry.He spent two hours at the site and said he expected a police investigation as well as a Prison Service inquiry.
A number of buildings were burned to the ground during the incident, which is thought to have involved alcohol.A number of buildings were burned to the ground during the incident, which is thought to have involved alcohol.
The Prison Officers' Association said the incident started around midnight on New Year's Eve heading into New Year's Day after staff tried to breathalyse some prisoners. The Prison Officers' Association said the incident started around midnight on New Year's Eve after staff tried to breathalyse some prisoners.
Unprecedented actUnprecedented act
Mr Blunt said staff, governors and inmates were "appalled and disgusted" by the riot. Mr Blunt said staff, governors and inmates were "appalled and disgusted" by the riot, and the situation had been "unprecedented in an open prison".
He said the situation was "unprecedented in an open prison" and the police inquiry could lead to criminal prosecutions. He praised the behaviour of the prison officers involved in bringing the situation under control, and said prisoners who remained at the facility were concerned by what had happened.
He praised the behaviour of the prison officers involved in bringing the situation under control and said prisoners who remained at the facility were concerned by what had happened. Mr Blunt said: "It's their community facilities that have been destroyed, and the actions of the prisoners who took part in the incident have therefore absolutely damaged the interests of all the inmates of the prison."
Mr Blunt said: "It is their communal facilities which have largely been destroyed - their gymnasium, their mail room and other community facilities. He said a police inquiry could lead to criminal prosecutions, and added: "We must learn the lessons to make sure it does not recur."
"We must learn the lessons to make sure it does not recur." The prison service inquiry is to be led by the regional custody manager for Wales.
The formal inquiry is to be led by the regional custody manager for Wales. 'Not enough staff'
Prison officials said the disturbance was "successfully resolved" by specially trained staff by 2200 GMT on Saturday.Prison officials said the disturbance was "successfully resolved" by specially trained staff by 2200 GMT on Saturday.
Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), said: "Although damage has been sustained to the prison, there has only been a minimal loss of accommodation. Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), said staffing levels at the time were "appropriate and usual".
"These types of incidents in open prisons are rare and it is to the credit of all the staff involved that no staff or prisoners sustained significant injuries during the incident." He added: "These types of incidents in open prisons are rare and it is to the credit of all the staff involved that no staff or prisoners sustained significant injuries during the incident."
He said staffing levels at the time were "appropriate and usual" and a "high-level investigation" had been launched.
But Mark Freeman from the Prison Officers' Association said there had only been two prison officers and four support staff on duty at the time to manage a population of 496 inmates.But Mark Freeman from the Prison Officers' Association said there had only been two prison officers and four support staff on duty at the time to manage a population of 496 inmates.
"In our view they do not have enough staff. The general policy is that prisons in an open state have less staff but we feel they should have more because they have more access to illegal activities," he said."In our view they do not have enough staff. The general policy is that prisons in an open state have less staff but we feel they should have more because they have more access to illegal activities," he said.
He said those responsible for the trouble had worn balaclavas to conceal their identities.He said those responsible for the trouble had worn balaclavas to conceal their identities.
Alcohol had been a concern at the jail for some time, he said, with dozens of empty bottles found in recent days.Alcohol had been a concern at the jail for some time, he said, with dozens of empty bottles found in recent days.
Mr Freeman said: "In the early hours, staff tried to breathalyse a number of prisoners because they suspected they had been drinking.Mr Freeman said: "In the early hours, staff tried to breathalyse a number of prisoners because they suspected they had been drinking.
"When the prisoners refused to be breathalysed they became violent, along with other prisoners and went on what we call a mutiny.""When the prisoners refused to be breathalysed they became violent, along with other prisoners and went on what we call a mutiny."
Six prisoners had been identified as the ringleaders, he added, and three were being transferred to other prisons, while the other three were "hiding" among the other inmates.Six prisoners had been identified as the ringleaders, he added, and three were being transferred to other prisons, while the other three were "hiding" among the other inmates.
About 40 inmates were involved in the riot, and the fires destroyed six accommodation blocks, a mail room, a gym, a snooker room, and a pool room.About 40 inmates were involved in the riot, and the fires destroyed six accommodation blocks, a mail room, a gym, a snooker room, and a pool room.
Mr Blunt said 150 prisoners had been moved to closed conditions, either because they were involved in the disturbances or because of damage to their accommodation.Mr Blunt said 150 prisoners had been moved to closed conditions, either because they were involved in the disturbances or because of damage to their accommodation.
The BBC's Sophie Hutchinson said the damage was estimated to be around £2m.The BBC's Sophie Hutchinson said the damage was estimated to be around £2m.
Eoin McLennan-Murray from the Prison Governors' Association said the Prison Service dealt with the situation effectively. A former inmate, Dave, also told BBC Radio 5 live that staffing was a problem at the prison.
He said: "It's not the sort of thing that you expect and when it does happen we obviously do have to react to it. He said: "Certain inmates in there they will be encouraged to jump over the fence, nip down to Tescos, which is just down the road, and go and get x amount of pounds of alcohol.
"The prison is under control, but when a building is on fire then you attempt to put it out. "That's reality. If they had more staff in there it wouldn't happen."
"The first priority is to try and clear the area, protect the public, make sure prisoners aren't escaping or leaving - the service has been successful at that and it was brought under control." Eoin McLennan-Murray from the Prison Governors' Association said the Prison Service had dealt with the unexpected situation effectively, and had successfully reached its aims of protecting the public and making sure prisoners did not abscond.
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.
The Prison Service website says the institution does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or "restraining" offences.The Prison Service website says the institution does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or "restraining" offences.
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.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.