UK police seize control of Birmingham prison from rioters

Riot officers were deployed to tackle the disturbance in HMP Birmingham prison on December 16, 2016.

British authorities have regained control of the country’s third biggest prison, following 12 hours of rioting that involved hundreds of inmates.

Up to 300 riot officers stormed HMP Birmingham prison and seized back control from inmates, who started the unrest on Friday morning after they overpowered staff and managed to wrestle keys from them, according to sources.

The disturbance started at 9:00 a.m. and spread quickly from two wings to four wings by the evening.

Rioters started fires and burned files, according to reports. They also gained access to medical supplies in the jail.

This photo was apparently taken inside the prison during the riot on December 16, 2016 in Birmingham.

"It's understood a set of keys giving access to residential areas was taken from an officer and that offenders have since occupied some blocks and exercise facilities," police said.

The inmates took photographs inside the jail and shared them on social media, showing some rioters wearing ­prison officers’ uniforms and showing off sets of keys.

Reports said that some of the gangs were trying to get wing, where ­vulnerable prisoners, including sex offenders were ­being held. Prisoners caught in the middle of the disturbance, were heard shouting with smoke rising from the roof of the facility.

Only one prisoner was injured during the riot, which caused serious damage to two wings and "superficial damage" to two others. All prison officers were accounted for and none was injured, according to officials.

About 260 prisoners would be moved out of the prison for being involved in the riot.

"The prison remains calm and ordered with additional staff on site to offer support,” the Ministry of Justice said on Saturday.

 A prisoner is smashing a door with baton inside the prison.

Justice Secretary Liz Truss also said there would be a "thorough investigation,” into the disturbance which was branded by the Prison Officers' Association as the worst since the Strangeways prison riot 26 years ago.

“Violence in our prisons will not be tolerated and those responsible will face the full force of the law,” said Truss.

This was the second prison riot in Britain since last month, when prisoners took over parts of Bedford prison in central England. Police officers deployed to the jail and restored control.

One week after the incident, thousands of prison officers across the country took to the streets against rising levels of prison violence.

According to the Prison Governors' Association (PGA), the country’s jails are in a parlous state because of a decline in pay and the cutting of staff numbers.