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| Clean-up operation at riot jail | Clean-up operation at riot jail |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A clean-up operation is starting at a prison where three inmates were injured and up to 75% of the jail was damaged in a riot lasting 21 hours. | A clean-up operation is starting at a prison where three inmates were injured and up to 75% of the jail was damaged in a riot lasting 21 hours. |
| Specialist prison officers finally brought the violence at HMP Ashwell in Rutland under control at 2245 BST. | Specialist prison officers finally brought the violence at HMP Ashwell in Rutland under control at 2245 BST. |
| The Prison Officers Association (POA) said four accommodation wings, two workshops and a healthcare centre "have been wrecked". | The Prison Officers Association (POA) said four accommodation wings, two workshops and a healthcare centre "have been wrecked". |
| The Ministry of Justice has denied that overcrowding was a factor in the riot. | The Ministry of Justice has denied that overcrowding was a factor in the riot. |
| POA national executive member Peter Chapple said administration buildings and a reception area had also been damaged during the violence which began at 0100 BST on Saturday and had left only about 25% of the category C prison "habitable". | POA national executive member Peter Chapple said administration buildings and a reception area had also been damaged during the violence which began at 0100 BST on Saturday and had left only about 25% of the category C prison "habitable". |
| It moved on from there to a situation which became extremely dangerous and violent Glyn Travis POA | It moved on from there to a situation which became extremely dangerous and violent Glyn Travis POA |
| The final repair and clean-up bill would run into "hundreds of thousands of pounds", he said. | The final repair and clean-up bill would run into "hundreds of thousands of pounds", he said. |
| POA national chairman Colin Moses added: "We have been warning of this type of disturbance for many months, but no one wants to listen." | POA national chairman Colin Moses added: "We have been warning of this type of disturbance for many months, but no one wants to listen." |
| He said a lack of investment had led to fewer specialist staff and a failure to address the issue could lead to HMP Ashwell becoming the "first of many disturbances of 2009". | He said a lack of investment had led to fewer specialist staff and a failure to address the issue could lead to HMP Ashwell becoming the "first of many disturbances of 2009". |
| Local MP for Rutland and Melton Alan Duncan added his voice to the concerns about investment but a Prison Service spokeswoman insisted it was "simply untrue" that Ashwell was either holding Category B prisoners or overcrowded. | Local MP for Rutland and Melton Alan Duncan added his voice to the concerns about investment but a Prison Service spokeswoman insisted it was "simply untrue" that Ashwell was either holding Category B prisoners or overcrowded. |
| 'Minor injuries' | 'Minor injuries' |
| Justice Minister Lord Bach said he did not believe the incident was linked to staffing or budget issues and praised expert staff "doing a great job under very difficult circumstances and with much courage". | Justice Minister Lord Bach said he did not believe the incident was linked to staffing or budget issues and praised expert staff "doing a great job under very difficult circumstances and with much courage". |
| The Prison Service said about 420 inmates were moved to other prisons during the disturbance but around 180 remained at Ashwell in cells. | The Prison Service said about 420 inmates were moved to other prisons during the disturbance but around 180 remained at Ashwell in cells. |
| "No staff were injured and there were minor injuries to three prisoners," it said. | "No staff were injured and there were minor injuries to three prisoners," it said. |
| It is thought that a decision to remove privileges from some prisoners led to a small group inciting others to riot. | |
| POA spokesman Glyn Travis said: "It moved on from there to a situation which became extremely dangerous and violent." | POA spokesman Glyn Travis said: "It moved on from there to a situation which became extremely dangerous and violent." |
| The prison, built on a former Army camp, started as an open prison in 1955 and was converted to a category C jail in 1987. | The prison, built on a former Army camp, started as an open prison in 1955 and was converted to a category C jail in 1987. |