Inmates threaten staff at prison riot

8:30am Thursday 3rd July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

REBEL inmates at HMP Eastwood Park Prison forced a huge scale police operation after threatening to attack staff.

Seventeen inmates in the women's young offenders' institution were first involved in the three-hour stand off with warders just before noon on Saturday.

The rioters took control of D Wing following a problem with the prison's hot water supply.

Several backed down but six prisoners continued to threaten staff with violence.

Police and fire services were called to the prison, near Falfield, and a negotiator arrived at the scene to calm the situation.

Firearms officers from Avon and Somerset police's Almondsbury unit were on standby at the prison and the force's helicopter was scrambled.

Police officers patrolled Church Avenue, the entrance to the prison, to reassure residents that the riot was under control.

Sgt Craig Ogborne, from Thornbury police station, said: "We were called to support prison and fire services with regards to co-ordinating emergency responses and in order to ensure that there was no likelihood of any escape.

"Six inmates refused to return to their cells and were threatening prison officers."

He added: "By 3.30pm a peaceful resolution was arrived at and the prison was restored to normality.

"Post incident investigations are taking place to see if any criminal charges should be brought forward."

A prison service spokesman said: "We can confirm an incident took place at 11.15am on June 28 at the Young Offender Unit at Eastwood Park Prison, after a problem to the hot water supply.

"Seventeen prisoners were initially involved - six of the prisoners remained and threatened to attack staff.

"The incident was dealt with quickly and peacefully, with no injuries to staff or prisoners."