Stoke Heath weapons find

A Prison Service spokeswoman today confirmed an imitation firearm and other items were found before the nine-hour riot at Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution (YOI), near Market Drayton, on Sunday.

Following the discovery of the replica gun last Tuesday there was a lock-down. A search was carried out and a number of "hand fashioned wea-pons" were seized.

Today, The Prison Service would not confirm if it was linking the weapons find to Sunday's incident but confirmed the matter had been passed to the police.

And West Mercia Police confirmed detectives had launched an investigation into the riot.

The Prison Service spokeswoman said: "A homemade imitation fire-arm was discovered in the manufacturing department of the institution on Tuesday last week.

"Following that the YOI was locked down so staff could carry out a full search of all areas.

"A few items were recovered including a number of hand-fashioned weapons and disciplinary action will be taken against individuals found to be involved in this."

The spokeswoman could not confirm what items had been seized.

During Sunday's riot, inmates attacked staff and wrecked offices and a specialist team was drafted in to quell the violence, which erupted at about 5pm after a group of inmates refused to return to their cells.

Four prison officers were injured, with one taken to hospital with a broken nose. None of the inmates are believed to have suffered injuries.

Prison Service officials said 33 inmates were involved in the incident, which was brought under control by 2.15am yesterday.

Twelve of the youths had to be taken away to another YOI in Wigan and seven were being held in a segregation unit. A considerable amount of damage was caused to the common areas.

Report by Vickie Woodward and Oliver Cartwright

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