The Prison Service has stressed that it will take "swift and robust" action whenever there is disorder in prisons after a jury cleared 11 prisoners of mutiny yesterday.

But the Prison Reform Trust has urged the Government to heed the warning signs over cuts and poor conditions in prisons rather than instituting a crackdown.

Yesterday: Prisoners cleared by jury of staging 'mackerel mutiny' at High Down prison

The remarks came after the former Tory prisons minister and Banstead MP, Crispin Blunt, criticised the Government's prison policy yesterday.

He  warned the not guilty verdicts could be misinterpeted as a green light for prisoners to protest about the new harsher regime in prisons around the country.

Yesterday: Former prisons minister issues warning after 11 High Down prisoners cleared of mutiny

At the end of a three week trial at Blackfriars Crown Court the men were acquitted of criminal damage and staging a mutiny after they barricaded themselves into a cell for seven-and-a-half hours at High Down in Banstead last October in protest about "not getting enough food, exercise, showers or gym".

In response to the verdicts, a Prison Service spokesperson yesterday said: "Disruptive behaviour has no place in prison and we take swift and robust action against anyone who attempts any kind of disorder.

"All serious incidents are referred to the police for prosecution. We will closely consider next steps after today's verdict."

After the verdicts, the Prison Reform Trust highlighted issues raised in the trial about overcrowding, cuts, staff reductions, overcrowding and the importance of prisoners’ rights.

Its director Juliet Lyon said: "Instead of promising to crackdown, the Justice Secretary would be wise to heed the warning signs and ensure that fairness and decency are once again restored to our justice system."

She said: "Drastic budget cuts, staff reductions and rushed policy decisions have created an environment which undermines both justice and fairness in our prison system.

"Ensuring that prisons are able to get the basics right, such as food, access to shower facilities, education and training, exercise, and maintaining family contact are vital if we are to ensure that prisons function properly, and that people leave less likely to reoffend.

"Staff numbers have been slashed by 28 per cent in the last four years, placing huge pressures on a demotivated and demoralised workforce.

"High levels of overcrowding due to a rising prison population mean that prisoners are spending ever increasing amounts of time in their cells, rather than being able to use their time constructively."

The Secretary of State for Justice, Epsom MP Chris Grayling, declined to respond to Mr Blunt's criticisms of his prison policy.

Defence solicitor Nicholas Doran, who represented one of the defendants, Oshane Gayle, said: "He is extremely pleased and feels that justice has been done."

Mr Doran said previous clients had complained about conditions at High Down even before he took on the case.

He said: "I was concerned that High Down was struggling to cope with the cuts. I suppose this protest by prisoners was an example of that."

He said the governor and the prison staff had been placed in a situation which was "not of their own making" and there were not enough officers available to deal with prisoners.

He said: "The jury exercised their decision properly in saying it was a legitimate protest and because of the cuts these sorts of things were going to happen."

Mr Doran raised concerns over basic conditions, lack of exercise and association and the fact prisoners were locked up for 23 hours a day.

He described the prison as a "sort of guinea pig" for a new Government prison policy called New Ways of Working (NWoW).

He said: "High Down was one of the first prisons to implement the cuts. I think since it has happened things have quietened down there."

The lack of media coverage of yesterday's trial verdicts and the implications has been the subject of comment on social media.

 


 

A number of people have queried why the men were tried for mutiny in the first place, while others beleive it has set a precedent for prison protest.