Overcrowding 'cause of riot at Lincoln jail'

Prison officers blamed overcrowding for an eight-hour riot at Lincoln jail which left 27 prisoners and three staff injured.

It took 300 police officers from three forces to help restore order at the jail yesterday morning after inmates went on the rampage. An investigation into the trouble has already begun.

Duncan Keys, assistant secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "Historically we would look at previous incidents such as Strangeways, where chronic overcrowding contributed to a major riot there.

"We need more staff in there. Prison officers do a dangerous job in society and they should be increased."

But Martin Narey, the director general of the Prison Service, said: "I don't believe overcrowding is the cause and it is certainly not a justification for this."

The trigger for the violence occurred on Wednesday night when an inmate attacked a guard in the prison's A wing. He stole keys and released 150 other prisoners, who smashed windows and started fires.

Some rioters were taken to hospital suffering from suspected drugs overdoses, having raided the prison's pharmacy. Two remain seriously ill.

A prison officers' leader warned that inmates and staff would die if further jail rioting took place during a proposed strike by fire fighters.