A prison in the North East was placed on lockdown following an alleged hostage incident, with the matter now under police investigation. HMP Deerbolt, a Category C training prison near Barnard Castle, reportedly locked down last week and suspended visits after an inmate was allegedly held hostage in his cell.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that no staff or prisoners were injured during the incident. However, an anonymous prisoner who contacted ChronicleLive claimed that inmates are living in fear due to ongoing violence within the facility. He stated, "Everyone is in danger" and that "nothing is getting done."
Ministry of Justice Response
The Ministry of Justice defended the prison's efforts to reduce violence, highlighting measures such as a dedicated safety officer to identify risk hotspots and defuse conflicts, increased searches of prisoners, and a safety summit to address root causes of violence. A spokesperson said: "This matter has been referred to the police for investigation and no injuries occurred to staff or prisoners. We inherited a prison system in crisis but took immediate action to restore order and protect the public. This includes investing over £40 million in new prison security, including £10 million on anti-drone measures, to clamp down on the illicit items that fuel violence and deliver punishment that works to cut crime."
Durham Constabulary has been approached for comment regarding the investigation. The incident at HMP Deerbolt, which holds around 500 inmates, has raised concerns about safety within the facility, with the anonymous prisoner alleging that violence is a persistent problem.
