TWO INMATES INJURED OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER BEING VIOLENTLY ATTACKED AT HMP FOREST BANK

During an attack on Saturday afternoon (9th Nov) , one 28-year-old inmate suffered a serious head injury at the category b prison facility in Agecroft. It it is understood that the man sustained a fractured skull during a frenzied attack.

The air ambulance and a rapid response vehicle were dispatched shortly after 1pm and the prisoner was taken to hospital by road and is said to be in a serious condition.

On the following day (10th Nov), a second inmate received slash wounds to the face during an altercation, his condition is described as non-life-threatening.

Both incidents come not long after a damning report released in May revealed that a third of inmates at the privately-ran category-b prison did not feel safe after 5 inmates have died whilst at the prison over the past year and a half.

The report compiled by HM Inspectors of Prisons reveals that data collected suggests violent incidents have doubled at the Category B prison over the past three years.

Inspectors found that incidents of self harm had significantly increased and an incident in 2016 led to the self-inflicted death of one prisoner. The data suggests that incidents are higher than would be the norm.

Prison staff say that an investigation into both incidents is now underway and have declined to give further comment.