West Sussex jail inmates run riot on New Year's eve

London: Police have been called to West Sussex prison after inmates started fires and smashed windows and furniture during a New Year riot. About 40 prisoners at HMP Ford, near Arundel, began rioting just before midnight on New Year's Eve, activating fire alarms before setting the building alight, the Ministry of Justice said.

Wardens at the open prison were forced to retreat and police, specialist prison officers and firefighters were called in.

A Prison Service spokesman said fires had been started in a small number of buildings at the site.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said there had been no reports of injuries to prisoners or staff.

"Specialist teams of prison officers have been called in to deal with the incident," he said. The prison specialises in housing non-violent offenders with a low risk of absconding who are nearing the end of their sentences.

Lax security

Prison watchdogs have criticised Ford for its lax security in recent years.

A report by the prison's own independent monitoring board in March 2009 found that an outdated CCTV security system and a staffing shortage were contributing to burglars breaking into the jail to steal equipment from workshops. It also found that drugs, alcohol and mobile phones were being smuggled into the prison for inmates.

Two months later, a report by the chief inspector of prisons found that inmates were leaving the site at night to buy alcohol. Inspectors described the prison as being "awash with alcohol". The report said the prison was underperforming in preparing inmates for resettlement on release.

In 2006 the Home Office revealed that 70 inmates, including three murderers serving the last three years of their sentences, absconded from the site.