G4S: Oakwood prison staff are 'doing a superb job'

An inmate at privately-run Oakwood prison near Wolverhampton has claimed a disturbance that authorities say ended peacefully after a few hours was actually a "near riot".

The incident took place after a group of prisoners refused to be locked down at 17:15 GMT on Sunday, leading to a 10-hour disturbance, the BBC has been told.

Jerry Petherick, the managing director for custodial and detention services at G4S, told the Today programme's John Humphrys "the staff at Oakwood are doing a superb job… and gaining experience day by day".

He also said a lot of emphasis at the prison is based on rehabilitation.

"We are better than all the targets related to rehabilitation," he said, adding that the prison is "extending vocational training" and using sport as a way to introduce team-building exercises.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday 7 January 2014.