Police called to rioting at jail

Riots broke out at a jail near Wolverhampton, with dozens of police officers sent to help guards with out-of-control inmates.

Trouble flared at Brinsford Young Offenders Institution in New Road, Featherstone, last night, leading to police, firefighters and the ambulance service being called to the scene. Brinsford houses young criminals from across the country and has a capacity of 569, with five units split into eight wings.

The emergency services were called at 9.30pm and remained on standby in the grounds of the institution, which is next to Featherstone Prison, until the early hours of today. Speaking at the scene, Duty Sgt Matt Walker, of Staffordshire Police, said: “We are just here to assist the prison authorities.

“We were called to an incident of disorder inside the prison.”

His colleague Sgt Tracey Pointon said today that an investigation had been launched and officers would speaking to the governor today.

She said: “There was some disorder and prison officers were involved. Within a short space of time it all became calm.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said: “We were called at 9.32pm. A number of ambulance crews were sent. We assessed a few patients but nobody was hurt.”

In April 2006, gang member Dean Smith, of Erdington, was jailed for 18 month for stabbing two officers at Brinsford while on remand for murder.

No serious injury was caused to the prison staff, but Judge Michael Dudley said officers were “particularly vulnerable to inmates who become violent” and it was “important that those in the service know that the courts will protect them”.

The attack took place after a senior officer went to see Smith. The officer was grabbed before he was stabbed in the face with a pen or pencil.

The Ministry of Justice was today unavailable for comment on last night’s trouble.

It comes as residents have until September 18 to air their views on the design of a new superprison for Featherstone. It would house 1,620 inmates.

By Rita Maman

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