Four hurt in riot at youth jail

The Prison Officers Association is calling for an inquiry

An investigation is underway after an eight-hour riot at a young offenders' institute in County Durham left a prison officer with a fractured skull.

Three other officers were also injured and a wing destroyed at Deerbolt, near Barnard Castle, when 40 young offenders went on the rampage on Sunday.

The Home Office has confirmed the incident and Durham police have launched an investigation.

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) is calling for an inquiry.

In a statement the association said it had warned the prison management about increasing threats and violence leading up to the riot.

Steve Cox, National Vice Chair of the association, said the prison was under resourced, undermanned and holding violent prisoners from other parts of the country due to overcrowding.

He said: "After visiting the aftermath and speaking to the staff involved, there is a lot of anger directed at local management for failing to heed warnings given by experienced operational staff."

"There was and still is a problem with rival gangs and all the intelligence gathered indicated that this wing was a potential time bomb waiting to explode. Our members deserve better."

The statement said the officer's skull was fractured after he was repeatedly kicked and hit by young offenders.