Inmates go on rampage in Yorkshire youth prison

Officers in riot gear were needed to restore order after at least five prison officers were injured, including a woman who suffered a fractured jaw, in the riots at Moorland prison in Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster, and at Woodbridge, Suffolk, which started last night.

Almost 50 inmates needed to be transferred to other young offenders' institutions across the country after about 100 prison places were lost as a result of the damage, the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said.

About 60 offenders aged between 15 and 18 refused to return to their cells at Warren Hill, in Woodbridge, Suffolk, at about 7.30pm last night, a Prison Service spokeswoman said.

Officers in riot gear, known as Prison Service Tornado response teams, entered the prison at 5.40am and the situation is now under control, the spokeswoman said.

"The juveniles offered no resistance and will now be relocated elsewhere in the prison estate.

"Two staff were injured in the incident. Three juveniles are being treated for minor injuries. An assessment of the damage done to the wings will be carried out later today.

A total of 48 inmates needed to be transferred to other prisons across the country after about 100 prison places were lost as a result of the incident, a POA spokesman said.

The riot was prompted when a number of inmates were prevented from having free and unfettered access to the telephone and leisure facilities following incidents of alleged bullying of other juveniles, the POA said.

"They reacted with venom, causing significant damage to the prison and two prisoners being hospitalised with a number of staff injured whilst trying to deal with the riot," he said.

"This is the third serious incident this year at Warren Hill which has had to be dealt with by prison officers, this time resulting in a damaging loss of prisoner accommodation."

Tom Robson, acting national chairman of the POA, said: "The level of violence in our prisons is totally unacceptable and this incident is not uncommon in our juvenile and young offender establishments.

"Warren Hill consistently sits within the top 20 of the table recording the level of assaults on staff.

"We are seeking an urgent meeting with the regional custodial manager to look at resolving these issues and preventing further violence and damage to prison property, which will all result in significant costs to the taxpayer."

In the unrelated incident at Moorland prison in Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster, more than 40 young offenders refused to return to their cells after a fight broke out at about 7pm last night.

Tornado response teams were called in at about 1am and the prisoners "offered no resistance".

Three members of prison staff were assaulted, including a female officer who sustained a fractured jaw, and significant damage was caused to the recreation area and cells in the riot which took place during a period of association, the POA said.

A number of suspected ringleaders have been segregated, the POA said.

Mr Robson added: "The street corner gangs re-associate inside our prisons.

"They continue in the only way they know which is in a violent and anti-social manner that our members confront and manage on a daily basis.

"Prison officers deserve the gratitude of the general public for the service they provide."

POA general secretary Steve Gillan said control and restraint teams were deployed to bring the situation under control, which limited the damage to the establishment.

The Prison Service spokeswoman stressed there was "absolutely no indication that the incidents at HMPs Warren Hill and Moorland are linked in any way".

She added: "Prisons are secure and ordered environments housing a complex and challenging population.

"Incidents are dealt with professionally and efficiently by trained Prison Service staff. We will always press for the most serious charges to be laid against those who commit acts of violence in our prisons."