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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| HMP Hewell unrest brought under control by prison riot squads | HMP Hewell unrest brought under control by prison riot squads |
| (6 months later) | |
| Prison Service says a ‘small number’ of inmates in Worcestershire prison refused to follow orders and attempted to cause damage | |
| Press Association | |
| Sun 23 Jul 2017 02.39 BST | |
| First published on Sun 23 Jul 2017 01.30 BST | |
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| A prison wing is understood to be under control after prison security teams were drafted in to deal with an “ongoing incident”. | A prison wing is understood to be under control after prison security teams were drafted in to deal with an “ongoing incident”. |
| So-called Tornado squads, equipped to deal with riots, were sent to HMP Hewell near Redditch, Worcestershire, after trouble broke out on one of the prison’s wings on Saturday. | So-called Tornado squads, equipped to deal with riots, were sent to HMP Hewell near Redditch, Worcestershire, after trouble broke out on one of the prison’s wings on Saturday. |
| The Prison Service said a “small number” of inmates at the category B jail were involved. It is understood a handful of prisoners were refusing to follow prison officers’ orders and had been attempting to damage the wing. | The Prison Service said a “small number” of inmates at the category B jail were involved. It is understood a handful of prisoners were refusing to follow prison officers’ orders and had been attempting to damage the wing. |
| Men shouting and swearing, as well as banging and dogs’ barking, could be heard coming from the scene late on Saturday. | Men shouting and swearing, as well as banging and dogs’ barking, could be heard coming from the scene late on Saturday. |
| Several loud quickfire bangs, thought to be distraction bursts used by prison authorities, were heard at the scene during the disorder. These were greeted by loud shouts thought to be coming from inside the affected wing. | Several loud quickfire bangs, thought to be distraction bursts used by prison authorities, were heard at the scene during the disorder. These were greeted by loud shouts thought to be coming from inside the affected wing. |
| From about 7.30pm, unmarked vans using blue lights and sirens started arriving at the site. | From about 7.30pm, unmarked vans using blue lights and sirens started arriving at the site. |
| A steady stream of vans and minibuses was seen arriving at the jail’s front entrance, carrying Tornado squads with backpacks full of equipment. | A steady stream of vans and minibuses was seen arriving at the jail’s front entrance, carrying Tornado squads with backpacks full of equipment. |
| The main site, which houses about 1,000 inmates – some of whom are category A remand prisoners – is surrounded by farmland. | The main site, which houses about 1,000 inmates – some of whom are category A remand prisoners – is surrounded by farmland. |
| “We are currently managing an ongoing incident on a wing at HMP Hewell,” a Prison Service spokesman said earlier. “A small number of prisoners are involved and there is no risk to the public.” | “We are currently managing an ongoing incident on a wing at HMP Hewell,” a Prison Service spokesman said earlier. “A small number of prisoners are involved and there is no risk to the public.” |
| “We are absolutely clear that offenders who behave in this way will be punished and face spending extra time behind bars,” the spokesman added. | “We are absolutely clear that offenders who behave in this way will be punished and face spending extra time behind bars,” the spokesman added. |
| Hewell jail, which opened in its current form in 2008, is made up of six housing blocks or wings – while there is a separate open prison called the Grange. | Hewell jail, which opened in its current form in 2008, is made up of six housing blocks or wings – while there is a separate open prison called the Grange. |
| In an announced inspection report published in January, Hewell was described as “a prison with many challenges and areas of serious concern”. | In an announced inspection report published in January, Hewell was described as “a prison with many challenges and areas of serious concern”. |
| Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons, said the “main concerns at the closed site were regarding issues of safety and respect”. He said levels of violence were “far too high”, communal areas “dirty” and many cells over-crowded, with some described as “filthy”. | Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons, said the “main concerns at the closed site were regarding issues of safety and respect”. He said levels of violence were “far too high”, communal areas “dirty” and many cells over-crowded, with some described as “filthy”. |
| Sixty per cent told the inspection team it was “easy” to get hold of drugs inside. | Sixty per cent told the inspection team it was “easy” to get hold of drugs inside. |
| Inspectors also found levels of self-harm had increased, a quarter of prisoners “felt unsafe”. | Inspectors also found levels of self-harm had increased, a quarter of prisoners “felt unsafe”. |
| Prisons and probation | |
| UK criminal justice | |
| news | |
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