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Prison officer 'stabbed' in Swaleside jail riot Prison officer 'stabbed' at Swaleside jail
(35 minutes later)
A prison officer has been attacked and injured during riots at a jail in Kent. A prison officer has been attacked and injured during a disturbance 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 incident had broken out at Swaleside Prison on 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. Spokesman Michael Rolfe told the BBC trouble began in the afternoon, during which fires were lit and the officer was attacked with a blade.
The Ministry of Justice has not yet commented to the BBC. Ambulance crews treated the officer for an injury to his scalp before taking him to hospital.
The Ministry of Justice said specialist staff were at the scene.
'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 it had been confirmed the injured officer had been attacked with a bladed weapon and had received 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.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."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."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. Staff at the command centre dealing with the disturbance 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." Fires had been lit and telephone equipment was broken, he added.
The remaining inmates had lit fires and broken telephone equipment on the wing, he added. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said only two inmates had been involved in the disturbance, but she confirmed an officer had been attacked.
The officer had been treated in hospital and later discharged, she added.
She said: "Two prisoners gained access to internal netting in an isolated incident.
"Specialist staff are at the scene to bring the situation to a safe conclusion."
'Not enough staff''Not enough staff'
In 2011, several staff members were injured during a disturbance involving eight inmates.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.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."
In response, the Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said there was no link to staffing.
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.