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Riot At HMP Doncaster

Inmates smashed up 36 cells in a riot at a Doncaster prison, officials said.

The action by prisoners at HMP Moorland caused fire and water damage in one of the wings. One prisoner was injured but did not require hospital treatment. No staff were hurt.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) said 60 inmates had been moved to other prisons. Staff brought the “isolated incident” under control overnight, the Prison Service said. It is unclear how many prisoners took part in the rioting.

Paul McLennan, branch chairman of HMP Moorland POA, said the riot started at about 17:45 GMT on Sunday during “our lock-up time”. He said: “We’ve lost house block 2 A-wing. There is some fire damage – to what extent we don’t know yet because it’s cordoned off. “The lights and everything are out so we’re in darkness in there at the moment… and it’s not good.”

Mr McLennan said he hoped the riot would not “spread to other wings”. “Our main concern is to make the prison safe and try to get back to some normality,” he said.

Punishment Vow

A spokesperson for the service said: “Specially trained staff have successfully resolved an isolated incident involving a small number of prisoners on one wing at HMP Moorland. “We are absolutely clear that prisoners who behave in this way will be punished and could spend significantly longer behind bars.”

HM Inspectorate of Prisons found “high” levels of violence in its latest inspection of the jail in February.

Three days of rioting in November 2010 caused £1m damage at the prison. Fifteen men were sentenced for their part in the incident. About 1,000 inmates are held at the Category C prison, one of whom is reportedly former England footballer Adam Johnson.

Johnson was jailed for six years for grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.