Admit prisons are in crisis and get rid of G4S - MP tells Government

Mr Winnick, who represents Walsall North, spoke out over the state of prisons in the country, addressing Secretary of State for Justice Elizabeth Truss in a speech at the House of Commons. He said that Ms Truss 'is not willing to admit' that it has reached a crisis point.

This follows on from riots at Winson Green prison in Birmingham last week, which saw hundreds of inmates take over four wings in what experts called the worst prison riot since Strangeways in 1990.

Mr Winnick said: "It is very clear that the Prison Service is in a state of acute crisis, and it is a pity that the Secretary of State is not willing to admit that.

"Why was G4S involved in staffing the prison in the first place?

"We should look at its past,

"G4S was the organisation that had to pay back £109 million to the Secretary of State's own Department for overcharging.

"There were problems in the Medway secure training centre, the Yarl's Wood immigration detention centre and many other cases where this organisation has been involved.

"It is time that G4S was told very clearly that its organisation is no longer needed in our Prison Service."

In response, Ms Truss said that the decision to put the prison out to private tender was a Labour decision taken in 2009.

Hundreds of inmates took over four wings of Winson Green last Friday in what experts called the worst prison riot since Strangeways in 1990.

One inmate was reportedly seriously injured as prisoners broke free, smashing their way through the Victorian buildings, wrecking offices and lighting fires.

A source said the problems began with lights being broken and inmates controlling fire hoses.

Officers tried to get as many prisoners locked in their cells as possible to contain the problems but one guard was threatened with what appeared to be a used syringe.

A 'rapid reaction' Tornado Squad, made up of former members of the SAS and specialist officers, was seen entering the prison in the late afternoon in a bid to restore order.

West Midlands Police had a helicopter circling the prison while the ambulance service sent in a hazardous area response team.

Paramedics wore full body armour to enter the prison.