Jail riot brought under control

Jail riot brought under control

The disturbance involved 35 inmates

A disturbance at Shotts Jail in Lanarkshire has been brought under control by prison service staff.

About 35 inmates were involved in rioting in the National Induction Centre, where all inmates sentenced to ten years or more serve their first 12 months.

One member of staff was injured in the incident which began at about 2030 BST on Friday and was brought under control at 0515 BST on Saturday.

It is believed the male prison officer received hospital treatment as a result of minor injuries sustained during the incident.

Prison complex

The cause of the disturbance, which occurred during the prisoners' recreation time, is not clear.

The top floor of the unit was vandalised, with damage understood to have run into thousands of pounds worth.

Tom Fox of the SPS said: "It was a nasty situation. Three members of staff sustained injuries.

"Thankfully those injuries were fairly minor although one member of staff attended hospital for a check-up.

"Any incident like this is a matter of considerable concern for us."

The National Induction Centre, one of three separate establishments which are part of the Shotts prison complex, accommodates about 50 prisoners.

Hospital treatment

It provides a supportive regime for all prisoners, excluding sex offenders, sentenced to life or 10 years or more during the first six to 18 months of their terms.

The prison was also the scene of disturbances earlier this year.

In January, a major investigation was launched following two serious incidents within a week.

Three officers were stabbed during trouble at the jail and one officer broke his leg during a 19-hour siege, involving 80 prisoners, a week earlier.

The prison, built in 1978, has capacity for about 560 inmates.