London: British authorities on Monday put an end to a prison riot involving up to 200 inmates, which broke out just days after a warders’ association warned of a “bloodbath” in the UK’s detention facilities. Police, ambulance and fire services were called to the prison in Bedford, central England, shortly before 5 pm after the disturbance broke out. More than six hours later a Prison Service spokesperson said the incident had been “successfully resolved” by prison officers and the emergency services.
“An investigation into this incident will take place. We are absolutely clear that prisoners who behave in this way will be punished and could spend significantly longer behind bars,” the spokesperson said. During the unrest the Prison Officers Association’s general secretary, Steve Gillan, estimated up to 200 prisoners were involved. “Prison officers on the landings have withdrawn to a safe place, so prisoners are out in large numbers,” he said. Two inmates suffered non-serious injuries while officers were unhurt, a justice ministry spokesman said. The incident came just days after the head of the POA, Mike Rolfe, warned of the deteriorating situation in Britain’s prisons.
