HM Prison Wandsworth in London [Image: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian].

Riot squads have been called into volatile jails across England and Wales at a rate of 30 to 40 times a month to deal with serious disorder, according to evidence submitted to MPs by prison officers.

The Prison Officers Association told the MPs that intervention teams’ from the prison service’s National Tactical Response Group had been called to jails with unprecedented frequency between March and November last year. They had dealt with serious disorder including rooftop protests, hostage-taking and incidents of “concerted indiscipline”.

In a report on the rising tide of violence, self-harm and suicide in prisons, the Commons justice select committee says that unrest and violence in prisons are so serious that action cannot wait for justice secretary Michael Gove’s ambitious prison reform programme.

Source: Riot squads called into prisons on daily basis, MPs hear | Society | The Guardian

ADVERT

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here: