Two prison officers hospitalised after riot in West Lothian jail

Published on Tuesday 26 January 2010 10:29

TWO prison officers needed hospital treatment when they were injured in a riot at a private jail, it emerged today.

• HMP Addiewell, which opened in 2008

Emergency services were called to HMP Addiewell in West Lothian when trouble flared last night.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said a 29-year-old man was taken to St John's hospital in Livingston with head and facial injuries at around 7.50pm.

The jail's managers would not disclose whether the other injured officer was male or female but said both have been discharged from hospital.

Lothian and Borders police said up to 10 prisoners were "actively" involved in the riot.

Private company Kalyx, which manages HMP Addiewell for the Scottish Prison Service, said: "We can confirm that a contained incident, involving a small number of prisoners, took place in one of the wings at HMP Addiewell on the evening of Monday 25th January and was brought under control last night.

"There has been minor damage caused, mainly as a result of burst pipes.

"Two prison officers were injured during the incident and were treated at hospital but have now been discharged."

Two ambulance "special operations response teams" stood by outside the jail from 8.30pm until 1am after reports of a riot in the prison.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue service also stood by outside the jail from 7.30pm until after midnight when they were called to investigate a fire alarm.

HMP Addiewell opened in December 2008 and has places for 700 prisoners. Last October a member of staff there was taken to hospital after a disturbance in the prison and a riot took place there last February.

Kalyx later said that both injured prison officers are male.