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Swinfen Hall prison: Inmates 'flooded jail wing' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A prison was placed on lockdown after inmates reportedly took over a wing and tried to flood it. | |
Ambulance, fire crews and riot police were called to Swinfen Hall prison and young offenders' institution, near Lichfield in Staffordshire, at 19:37 BST on Thursday. | |
Officials said four prisoners were injured during the incident in D wing. | |
The Ministry of Justice would not confirm if the lockdown was sparked by a riot. | The Ministry of Justice would not confirm if the lockdown was sparked by a riot. |
It described the events as an "incident of indiscipline" and would not confirm reports of flooding. | |
'It was madness' | |
The jail holds up to 624 male adults aged between 18 and 25, serving between four years and life. | The jail holds up to 624 male adults aged between 18 and 25, serving between four years and life. |
One resident who lives nearby said: "There were up to 15 police cars, all the police had their body armour on, with police dogs - the lot. | |
"It was madness. You could hear the prisoners shouting. We've been up all night. | |
"We spoke to a security guard who said prisoners had taken over a wing. | |
"They had turned the taps on and had flooded the wing out and were threatening to set it on fire. | |
"Somebody was injured in there but they wouldn't allow the officers on to the wing." | |
A relative of one of the inmates on D-wing said many prisoners had felt frustrated following an outbreak of tuberculosis at the prison in May. | |
"A lot of the inmates were very stressed about it," he said. "Frustrations may be boiling over." | |
During the lockdown, which concluded at 00:07, Staffordshire Police guarded the perimeter of the building. | During the lockdown, which concluded at 00:07, Staffordshire Police guarded the perimeter of the building. |
The fire service said it had dealt with two small cell fires. | |
The Ministry of Justice said there were no injuries to prison staff during the incident, but four prisoners sustained minor injuries. | The Ministry of Justice said there were no injuries to prison staff during the incident, but four prisoners sustained minor injuries. |
The Prison Service said: "Specially-trained prison officers dealt with an incident of indiscipline at YOI Swinfen Hall on Thursday. Emergency services also attended the scene. | The Prison Service said: "Specially-trained prison officers dealt with an incident of indiscipline at YOI Swinfen Hall on Thursday. Emergency services also attended the scene. |
"The incident was resolved... and the prison is operating as normal." | "The incident was resolved... and the prison is operating as normal." |
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