Prison staff praised for the way they handled riot

A number of buildings, including accommodation and recreational facilities, were burned to the ground after balaclava-clad inmates began the riot on New Year’s Day, which was sparked by an attempt by staff to breathalyse them for contraband alcohol.

It was claimed that only two prison officers and four support staff were on duty at the time to manage a population of almost 500 inmates. But Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service, said staffing levels were considered appropriate and he played down the extent of the damage.

Mr Spurr said: “These types of incidents in open prisons are rare and it is to the credit of all the staff involved that no staff or prisoners sustained significant injuries during the incident.

“Staffing levels at the prison at the time the incident began were risk assessed and considered appropriate and usual for an open establishment such as Ford.

“A high level investigation will commence immediately to ascertain the causes and circumstances surrounding the incident and those involved may be liable to criminal charges.”

Around 150 inmates were moved to ‘closed conditions’ in other prisons, either because they were involved or because their accommodation blocks had been damaged. Mr Blunt said an internal investigation into the events would be carried out by the Prison Service, and a criminal inquiry by the police. After visiting the prison, he said the prisoners and staff were “appalled and disgusted” by what happened.

“That goes for the prisoners that remain there, it’s their community facilities that have been destroyed and the actions of the prisoners who took part in the incident have therefore absolutely damaged the interests of all the inmates of the prison.”

Praising the prison staff, he said: “The prison officers were exemplary. They were able to re-establish control of the prison without anyone getting hurt which is an important achievement.”

Mark Freeman, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, said that the riot started when guards suspected prisoners of seeing in the New Year with alcohol, and that a total of 40 bottles had been found empty in recent weeks. He added: “It’s been a concern here for a long time about the amount of alcohol prisoners are able to get.

“When the prisoners refused to be breathalysed they became violent along with other prisoners and went on what we call a mutiny, this is a prison mutiny.”

“Staff were running around trying to breathalyse prisoners. It’s been reminiscent of the end scenes of The Benny Hill Show – the only thing missing was the music.”

Previous security lapses

Set at a former naval air base near Arundel, West Sussex, HMP Ford houses ‘category D prisoners’, those thought by the authorities to be trusted not to escape, and as such, allowed to reside in an open prison.

Its two wings house up to 557 inmates and it is open to offenders with less than two years left to serve who have no history of trying to escape.
In 2006, security lapses at the prison became news when it emerged that at least 70 prisoners, including three murderers, absconded from the premises over a 12-month period. 11 foreign nationals had apparently just walked out.

In 2009, an independent report highlighted failings including an outdated CCTV system and a problem with the smuggling of alcohol, drugs and mobile phones into the prison.