As the chimes of Big Ben rang in the New Year, prisoners at HMP Ford in West Sussex began a disturbance of their own.
Prison officers were forced to abandon the Category D establishment shortly after midnight when some of the prisoners started setting off fire alarms and vandalising their wing. Unconfirmed rumours suggest the prisoners became rowdy when they were asked to return to their cells following New Year's Eve celebrations.
Prisoners at Ford are coming towards the end of their sentences and are preparing for resettlement. Until today no arsonists or sex offenders were in custody there, although some of the prisoners have convictions for violence.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "At around 12am about 40 prisoners began smashing windows and setting off fire alarms at the establishment and set one building alight.
"Prison staff were forced to retreat and police and the fire brigade have been called. Specialist teams of prison officers have been called in to deal with the incident."
The TV news channels are carrying live coverage of the incident, with overhead shots showing several fires still blazing towards the middle of the prison. Prisoners, distinguishable by their orange and grey jackets, can be seen wandering and socialising between the buildings.
According to the latest Ministry of Justice reports the fire brigade have left the scene, which suggests the burning buildings have been sacrificed to the flames. A large number of specially trained prison officers are at the open prison tasked with restoring order.
I reckon that if the riot team go in hard then it won't take too long to restore order. They're convicted low life anyway, let's not forget.
Prison officers were forced to abandon the Category D establishment shortly after midnight when some of the prisoners started setting off fire alarms and vandalising their wing. Unconfirmed rumours suggest the prisoners became rowdy when they were asked to return to their cells following New Year's Eve celebrations.
Prisoners at Ford are coming towards the end of their sentences and are preparing for resettlement. Until today no arsonists or sex offenders were in custody there, although some of the prisoners have convictions for violence.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "At around 12am about 40 prisoners began smashing windows and setting off fire alarms at the establishment and set one building alight.
"Prison staff were forced to retreat and police and the fire brigade have been called. Specialist teams of prison officers have been called in to deal with the incident."
The TV news channels are carrying live coverage of the incident, with overhead shots showing several fires still blazing towards the middle of the prison. Prisoners, distinguishable by their orange and grey jackets, can be seen wandering and socialising between the buildings.
According to the latest Ministry of Justice reports the fire brigade have left the scene, which suggests the burning buildings have been sacrificed to the flames. A large number of specially trained prison officers are at the open prison tasked with restoring order.
I reckon that if the riot team go in hard then it won't take too long to restore order. They're convicted low life anyway, let's not forget.
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