Birmingham prison riot: Bosses warned about 'potential disorder' before 15-hour riot, report reveals
Prison bosses were warned about 'potential disorder' before rioters caused millions of pounds of damage during a 15-hour mutiny.
Officers were pelted with paint and pool balls when at least 500 prisoners were let out of their cells during the HMP Birmingham riot last December.
But the prison's senior management team were made aware of a possible disturbance before inmates caused havoc, an Independent Monitoring Board report revealed.
Despite the warnings, they could not have anticipated the serious disorder would have a 'significant, immediate and longer-lasting' impact on all within the jail, it continued.
The report read: "Immediately prior to the disturbance there had been concerning indicators of potential disruption, noted and communicated to the senior management team by Board members.
"However, there was no clear indication of the likelihood of a disturbance of such impact."
Televisions were thrown out of windows and bedding set on fire during the 'serious' disturbance, which began after keys were stolen from a prison offers at the Winson Green jail.
Staff were praised for their 'positive, brave and considerate acts' during the mutiny, but the board claimed a lack of CCTV on wings stopped officers from assessing the initial outbreak.
The report added: "It was also clear that, had CCTV been available on the wings, the level of disorder could have been assessed immediately at the control room.
"Whilst we do not know what the benefit of CCTV would have been, we can observe that a lack of CCTV was not beneficial."
The annual report also noted the board was 'impressed' with staff, who are dedicated to to supporting society’s 'most difficult and disturbed individuals'.
It revealed 166 assaults by prisoners on staff had been recorded over a six-month period at the category B prison, which sees almost 20000 men pass through each year.
Deaths in custody have also risen, with nine recorded by the jail, while staff shortages have caused officers to become less likely to 'recognise dangerous patterns of behaviour'.
Director at HMP Birmingham Richard Stedman, who was appointed in April of this year, said an 18-month action plan has been developed to reduce violence across the jail.
He added: "The establishment is entirely focused on applying lessons learnt to ensure that HMP Birmingham is a safe, ordered and purposeful establishment.
"The past twelve months have been challenging for Birmingham and this report reflects the difficulties that we and many other prisons across the country are facing.
"I welcome that monitors have recognised the work we are doing and the early signs of improvements in safety, order and staff morale.
"In addition, we continue our significant investment in new technology and recruiting additional staff. By the end of November we are projected to exceed our contracted number of prison custody officers.
"We will look carefully at the recommendations made and will continue to work with partners in the community and the Ministry of Justice to make further progress at Birmingham in the year ahead."
