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Prison officer stabbed in Swaleside jail riot Prison officer 'stabbed' in Swaleside jail riot
(35 minutes later)
A prison officer has been stabbed during riots at a jail in Kent. 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 prison officer had been injured. He said a disturbance began at the jail during the afternoon and is still continuing. 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 he had heard an officer had been injured and there were unconfirmed reports it was a stab wound to the head. 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.
"I'm told there are still some prisoners at height," Mr Rolfe said. "Usually they wait for negotiators to come in. 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." "It sounds as if it's drink or drug-fuelled," Mr Rolfe said.
He said police and fire teams went to the jail at 18:15 BST, and Kent fire brigade confirmed crews were at the scene. "There is a lot of damage to the prison," he added, saying he believed the damage to be in accommodation areas.
"There is a lot of damage to the prison," Mr Rolfe 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'
Last week, a report on the jail said some prisoners were too scared to leave their cells for fears they will be assaulted. 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.