Swinfen Hall prison: Inmates 'flooded jail wing'

Police guarded the perimeter of Swinfen Hall prison

A prison was placed on lockdown after inmates reportedly took over a wing and tried to flood it.

Ambulance, fire crews and riot police were called to Swinfen Hall prison and young offenders' institution, near Lichfield in Staffordshire, at 19:37 BST on Thursday.

Officials said four prisoners were injured during the incident in D wing.

The Ministry of Justice would not confirm if the lockdown was sparked by a riot.

It described the events as an "incident of indiscipline" and would not confirm reports of flooding.

'It was madness'

The jail holds up to 624 male adults aged between 18 and 25, serving between four years and life.

One resident who lives nearby said: "There were up to 15 police cars, all the police had their body armour on, with police dogs - the lot.

"It was madness. You could hear the prisoners shouting. We've been up all night.

"We spoke to a security guard who said prisoners had taken over a wing.

"They had turned the taps on and had flooded the wing out and were threatening to set it on fire.

"Somebody was injured in there but they wouldn't allow the officers on to the wing."

A relative of one of the inmates on D-wing said many prisoners had felt frustrated following an outbreak of tuberculosis at the prison in May.

Emergency services were on standby during the incident

"A lot of the inmates were very stressed about it," he said. "Frustrations may be boiling over."

During the lockdown, which concluded at 00:07, Staffordshire Police guarded the perimeter of the building.

The fire service said it had dealt with two small cell fires.

The Ministry of Justice said there were no injuries to prison staff during the incident, but four prisoners sustained minor injuries.

The Prison Service said: "Specially-trained prison officers dealt with an incident of indiscipline at YOI Swinfen Hall on Thursday. Emergency services also attended the scene.

"The incident was resolved... and the prison is operating as normal."