Where is HMP Swaleside, why were prisoners rioting there and what are Tornado teams?
Inmates "surrendered" after baton-wielding riot cops closed in on prison wing
RAMPAGING prisoners took over part of a prison wing at HMP Swaleside in Kent just weeks after rioting broke out at HMP Birmingham and HMP Bedford.
Specialist Tornado teams brought the chaos under control at Swaleside with inmates "surrendering and going back to their cells by 1am".
We answer the key questions surrounding the riot.
Where is HMP Swaleside?
The Category B men's prison is based near the village of Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
It forms part of the Sheppey cluster which also includes HMP Elmley and HMP Standford Hill.
The prison opened in 1988 and had four residential wings with each containing 126 prisoners.
A further two wings were added, G wing in 2009 and H wing 2010, with each holding 179 inmates.
Why were prisoners rioting there?
Part of a prison wing was taken over by roughly 60 inmates on Thursday, December 23, before specialist "Tornado" teams moved in and reclaimed it.
A police investigation is underway to determine how and why the rioting broke out.
A man claiming to be a Swaleside inmate contacted the BBC and said part of A Wing was taken over by prisoners after officers raided cells.
He added that inexperienced staff and a reduction in privileges had caused "tensions" between prisoners and guards.
Were there any injuries during the HMP Swaleside riot?
There have been no prisoner or staff injuries reported after the chaos broke out at roughly 7pm.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said all those involved "surrendered and were back in cells by 1am".
How did the rioting play out?
The Prison Service has said the Swaleside rioting broke out on a landing of the jail's A wing.
It has been reported that the rest of the 1,100 prisoner jail was then put on "lockdown".
Prison Officers Association chairman Mick Rolfe said fires were started by some inmates.
The chaos was eventually brought under control by specialist "Tornado teams".
The rioting at Swaleside came just weeks after more than 600 inmates battled with armoured cops at HMP Birmingham.
What is a Tornado team?
Tornado teams are units of elite officers sent to prisons to bring riots under control.
They are usually made up of 50 officers who dress in black boiler suits and carrying batons and shields.
Members are picked from serving prison officers and undergo four months of specialist training.
Every officer carries an American-style PR-24 sidearms baton.
Anarchy in the UK: Recent riots in UK prisons
HMP Birmingham - December 16: The 12 hour rioting reportedly started over a lack of access to TVs and gym for prisoners. Roughly 600 inmates were involved. Reports emerged claiming one prisoner had been “beaten by other inmates” while another was slashed in the neck. Riot teams were sent in to deal with the chaos.
HMP Bedford - November 6: Roughly 230 prisoners went on the rampage on Sunday, November 6. The inmates flooded the jail's gangways, siezed keys from gaurds, broke into medicine stores and sparked small fires. The Prison service said it was brought under control after an operation that lasted more than six hours.
HMP Lewes - October 29: A specialist unit had to be called in after inmates rioted at Lewes prison in East Sussex. Four prison officers retreated to safety before the chaos was brought under control.
What are conditions like in HMP Swaleside?
Mr Rolfe has described Swaleside as "a particularly difficult place to work".
He said: "Staff recruitment and retention there has been poor.
"In the last few years they've lost lots of experienced staff and new recruits haven't wanted to stick the job out due to the toxic nature of the job."
A HM Inspectorate of Prisons report in July described the prison as "dangerous" and found levels at the jail were "far too high".
What other riots have taken place in UK prisons recently?
The HMP Swaleside riot broke out less than a week after inmates at HMP Birmingham rioted for 12 hours.
More than 600 prisoners were involved in the rioting.
It came just weeks after we reported that 300 inmates took over 2 wings at HMP Bedford.
Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and ex home secretaries Ken Clarke and Jacqui Smith said the Birmingham riot should be a "wake up call".
They wrote a letter to The Times claiming that jails had become unacceptably dangerous and called for inmate populations to be reduced by about half from their present levels to 45,000.
A specialist unit had to deal with with a riot at HMP Lewes prison in East Sussex in October.
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