Managers have 'lost control' as inmates brawl at troubled Forest Bank prison
08.01.2024 - 09:18
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Inmates were involved in a brawl at Salford's troubled Forest Bank prison. Bosses have launched an investigation and responded to claims they have 'lost control'.
The fighting took place on two wings, C1 and A1, on Wednesday last week, the prison has confirmed. There was no serious injuries to either inmates or staff, according to the prison. Bosses have denied claims the wings had to be locked down following the violence.
An HMP Forest Bank spokesperson told the M.E.N: "We can confirm that there were fights between prisoners on Wednesday on two wings. These were unrelated and are being investigated. The prison is operating normally."
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A source at the prison told the M.E.N. one female member of staff allegedly 'broke her wrist' during the trouble. However, bosses insist nobody suffered serious injury during the violence.
The source also said managers had 'lost control' of the jail. Prison bosses did not respond directly to this but denied a claim that they had to initiate Operation Tornado, where guards are brought in from elsewhere, usually to deal with riots and restore order.
Last week, the M.E.N. revealed Forest Bank recorded 130 serious assaults in just twelve months, according to official figures. It was the highest figure recorded by any prison in the country during 2022.
The privately-operated category B prison was the only jail to register three-figures for the number of serious attacks behind bars, up from 94 the year before. HMP Wandsworth in London came a distant second, with 93 reports of serious assaults during 2022. Strangeways prison recorded just 44 serious assaults during 2022 even though it houses more serious