The National Chairman

ISSUE 46, 15th April 2009

ASHWELL PRISON - "THE RIOT"

Dear Colleagues

ASHWELL PRISON -
"THE RIOT"

Firstly, I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to every POA member who played a part in dealing with "the riot" at Ashwell Prison on Saturday, 11th April 2009.

I recognise that uniformed staff across the country had their Easter weekend disrupted as a result of "the riot".

I would also like to thank Pete Chapple and Tom Robson who attended the Prison on Saturday and Sunday, as well as Glyn Travis who was at the Prison on Saturday and dealt with the press on behalf of the NEC. Steve Gillan and Brian Caton will also be visiting on Thursday, 16th April 2009.

It never ceases to amaze me that those in authority refuse to acknowledge that "the riot" at Ashwell was in fact a riot. We have had it called a major disturbance, an act of indiscipline and an act of concerted indiscipline. Why do those in authority play with words? We all know it was a "riot", the staff and prisoners at Ashwell say it was a "riot", and the staff dealing with the aftermath of the incident say it was a "riot", so I think we can safely say that a "riot" took place at Ashwell Prison in Leicestershire on 11th April 2009.

We have requested an urgent meeting with Jack Straw and called for a public inquiry into "the riot" at Ashwell Prison. Will we have our request acceded to? We will have to wait and see. There are many lessons to be learnt from the events of 11th April and hopefully the Government, NOMS and the Prison Service will learn from this riot and introduce changes.

The POA has been calling for a change to the way in which prisoners are allocated and categorised under PS0 0900. We debated the issue at Annual Conference in 2007 and we have highlighted the inadequacies of the system over the last 18 months or more, but no one is listening. We have seen the problems in our open Prisons as a result of the system. We have now had a riot and so maybe now the management will take notice. Or will they simply ignore the real facts and continue to gamble with the safety of our Prisons, prisoners, staff and of course, the general public? My belief is that they will continue to gamble in an attempt to save money.

I visited Ashwell on Tuesday, 14th April and met the local Committee and staff as I walked around Ashwell Prison. The carnage is plain to see. The reason for "the riot", according to staff that work there, is simply due to the wrong type of prisoner.

I have also read the statement from Jack Straw. Once again, he has failed to recognise the work of you, the professional men and women of the Prison Service. He has paid lip service to the efforts every POA member put in to resolve "the rior at Ashwell Prison. He has lumped you all with NOMS.

I have no doubt that every Prison and the staff at those Prisons will be affected as a result of the loss of 400 Prison places at Ashwell. The NEC will be assessing the situation and no doubt it will need to come to you for information to progress our concerns.

Finally, on behalf of the NEC and myself, I would like to thank you all for your tremendous efforts during this difficult time.

Colin Moses
National Chairman

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