Jail staffing levels to be reviewed after riot
Blunt, who spent two hours talking to staff and inmates at Ford prison near Arundel, West Sussex, following the New Year’s Day rampage, said the Prison Service inquiry will need to consider whether the violence could be repeated.
The suitability of the inmates being held at Ford, as well as the prisoners’ access to alcohol, will also need to be examined in the wake of the violence which saw communal areas of the jail destroyed, Blunt said.
About 40 prisoners turned violent in the early hours after officers attempted to breathalyse them for contraband alcohol.
The rioters set light to buildings during the night and again at lunchtime, causing extensive damage to six accommodation blocks, a gym, mail room and snooker and pool rooms.
Asked if having just two trained officers and four support staff for the 496 prisoners was appropriate, Blunt told the Press Association: “It’s obviously an issue that will be part of the inquiry and an issue around the policy of staffing levels at all open prisons.”
“One of the issues will be about whether there are particular circumstances at Ford — to examine whether the staffing policies are appropriate at Ford compared to other open prisons.
“What we need to remember was that the incident was unprecedented.
“If something happens that’s unprecedented, we’ve got to examine what the likelihood is of it recurring.”
Blunt revealed staffing was at the minimum level after one support officer called in sick at short notice and was not replaced.
“When the night shift took over there was certainly no indication or intelligence that anything untowards was happening,” he said.
“I hope and expect there will be full co-operation by everyone in Ford prison to make sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
The inquiry will look at whether inappropriate prisoners have been sent to the open jail in an attempt to reduce numbers elsewhere.
But Blunt denied that government budget cuts played a role in the riot, saying the situation at Ford pre-dated October’s spending review.
He added that the review will also look at whether recommendations made after inspectors identified alcohol being smuggled into the prison as a “significant problem” in 2009 were “adequately followed”.
Blunt added that it was “quite extraordinary” for prisoners to damage communal facilities during a riot, leaving the accommodation blocks largely undamaged.
About 150 prisoners have been moved to closed conditions, either because they were involved in the disturbances or because of damage to their accommodation.
