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Prison officer 'stabbed' at Swaleside jail | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A prison officer has been attacked and injured during a disturbance at a jail in Kent. | |
The Prison Officers Association (POA) said a major incident had broken out at Swaleside Prison on Sheppey. | |
Spokesman Michael Rolfe told the BBC trouble began in the afternoon, during which fires were lit and the officer was attacked with a blade. | |
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 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 disturbance had told Mr Rolfe it had been contained, but two inmates remained on metal netting above the cells. | |
Fires had been lit and telephone equipment was broken, 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. |