Prison disturbance 'at an end'

Police moved in after reports of a fire in the prison

Police say Lincoln Prison is back under control after they spent eight hours tackling a major disturbance.

Inmates set fire to parts of the jail and seized control of at least one section of the prison.

At one point hundreds of officers and firefighters surrounded the closed prison, attempting to get to grips with a fire in the newly-refurbished C wing.

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The prison, home to disgraced peer Jeffrey Archer until last week, has been criticised recently for being overcrowded and in poor condition.

Smoke was seen rising from the building, windows were smashed and onlookers heard shouts from prisoners in the block.

As soon as we arrived we could see smoke pouring out of the vents on the roof

BBC reporter Laith Abou-Ragheb

The Prison Service would only say "considerable damage" had been caused to the jail.

A spokesman added: "At this stage it appears that no prison staff or prisoners sustained any serious injuries.

"Some prisoners have been transferred to alternative jails."

However, Lincoln Hospital said it had launched its major incident procedure, calling in extra staff and opening a ward normally used only for day cases.

The hospital said it had dealt with a small number of casualties and described some as "poorly".

Windows smashed

On arriving, shortly after 2100 BST on Wednesday, BBC news reporter Laith Abou-Ragheb said smoke was billowing out of C wing.

He said coachloads of riot police and a number of fire engines had arrived at the scene.

Lincoln's cells are seen as cramped and outdated

Laith Abou-Ragheb said: "As soon as we arrived we could see smoke pouring out of the vents on the roof.

"We couldn't see flames but it was obviously on fire. Just before that there had been the sound of banging, as if firecrackers or fireworks were being let off."

On several occasions one inmate had even appeared at a bay window and goaded police through the glass, he added.

A Lincolnshire police spokesman said officers were called to the scene at 2010 BST on Wednesday.

Around 300 police from Lincolnshire, Humberside and Cambridgeshire were involved in securing the perimeter of the jail.

Control was eventually regained at 0420 BST on Thursday.

The Victorian Lincoln jail, a Category B prison, has about 500 remand and convicted prisoners, an excessive number according to its board of visitors.

In September, the board said overcrowding was affecting prisoners and staff, with one wing in desperate need of refurbishment.

The Lincoln board said prisoners were being locked in cells for too long.

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