Disturbance at Hull Prison after transfer of inmates from Birmingham after riots

There have been reports of a disturbance at Hull Prison after the transfer of inmates from the troubled Birmingham Prison.

Around 240 prisoners have been moved out of the West Midlands jail following rioting last week.

About 15 of them arrived in Hull this weekend, but it is understood problems started within hours.

Prison officers say staff were assaulted, CCTV cameras were torched and inmates at the East Yorkshire prison refused to return to their cells following the arrival of the Birmingham prisoners.

The Prison Officers Association said one of the incoming prisoners, who is thought to have been involved in inciting the riots at Birmingham, assaulted a senior officer yesterday.

The situation has been described as like a "powder keg waiting to go off"

Hull East MP Karl Turner said he had been told by officers from the prison that some staff had been forced to retreat to the mess when trouble got out of hand.

He says he intends to raise the matter in parliament this week.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “HMP Hull, like all prisons across the estate, is being closely monitored for signs of potential unrest.

"That includes managing the transfer of prisoners in the interests of maintaining safe, calm and normal regimes.

"We have specially trained prison staff available to respond to any disturbances."