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Prison officer 'stabbed' in Swaleside jail riot | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A prison officer has been attacked and injured during riots at a jail in Kent. | |
The Prison Officers Association (POA) said a major disturbance had broken out at Swaleside Prison on the Isle of Sheppey. | The Prison Officers Association (POA) said a major disturbance had broken out at Swaleside Prison on the Isle of Sheppey. |
Spokesman Michael Rolfe told the BBC a disturbance began at the jail in the afternoon during which fires were lit and an officer received a facial injury in an attack with a blade. | |
The Ministry of Justice has not yet commented to the BBC. | The Ministry of Justice has not yet commented to the BBC. |
'Drink or drug-fuelled' | 'Drink or drug-fuelled' |
Mr Rolfe, who works at nearby Elmley prison, said he was in touch with colleagues at Swaleside. | Mr Rolfe, who works at nearby Elmley prison, said he was in touch with colleagues at Swaleside. |
He said it had been confirmed the injured officer had been attacked with a bladed weapon and had received a cut to the face - either a stab or slash wound. | |
He said police and fire crews went to the jail at 18:15 BST, and Kent fire brigade confirmed it was at the scene. | |
"It sounds as if it's drink or drug-fuelled," Mr Rolfe said. | |
"There is a lot of damage to the prison," he added, saying he believed the damage to be in accommodation areas. | |
Staff at the command centre dealing with the riot had told Mr Rolfe it had been contained but two inmates remained on metal netting above the cells. | |
He said: "Currently, they are trying to negotiate them down, but it looks as if they'll have to take them by force." | |
The remaining inmates had lit fires and broken telephone equipment on the wing, he added. | |
'Not enough staff' | 'Not enough staff' |
In 2011, several staff members were injured during a disturbance involving eight inmates. | |
And last week a report on the jail said some prisoners were too scared to leave their cells for fear they would be assaulted. | |
An unannounced inspection of HMP Swaleside found staff shortages were "affecting every area of the prison". | An unannounced inspection of HMP Swaleside found staff shortages were "affecting every area of the prison". |
Mr Rolfe linked staffing numbers to the latest disturbance, telling the BBC: "This is the problem with cuts to the service. We don't do the security checks we used to do. | Mr Rolfe linked staffing numbers to the latest disturbance, telling the BBC: "This is the problem with cuts to the service. We don't do the security checks we used to do. |
"They're not so thorough and they're not so frequent and unfortunately this is what happens. There are not enough staff to do it." | "They're not so thorough and they're not so frequent and unfortunately this is what happens. There are not enough staff to do it." |
HMP Swaleside is a category B prison and holds about 1,100 inmates. | HMP Swaleside is a category B prison and holds about 1,100 inmates. |