Lags riot for a SECOND time at HMP The Mount at riot cops swoop as ‘armed prisoners take over a wing’ and smash windows
ARMED lags have gone on the rampage at a Hertfordshire prison for a second time in as many days.
Riot squad officers have swooped on HMP The Mount to regain control of the crisis-hit nick after lags reportedly smashed windows and took over a wing.
It is understood lags armed with weapons have seized control of part of Nash wing, which houses 250 inmates.
A relative of an inmate at the Category C jail warned the riots could last days and is a protest at being locked down for 24/7 since Friday due to staff shortage.
The source told The Sun Online they are being kept in cells "like animals" and it's a "breach of their human rights".
She said: "People are very, very angry.
"They're being made to eat cold food next to bowls of their own excrement which haven't been changed for the past five days.
"It's a protest and could go on for days.
"The prison could resolved the situation by getting in more prison officers to allow them to go outside for an hour or so a day to get some exercise.
"It's against their human rights."
Shocking footage showed prisoners rioting across two wings at the Category C jail near Hemel Hempstead yesterday.
At least 50 cells are thought to have been damaged during the rampage but nobody was injured.
It comes hours after a report warned the prison was struggling with staff shortages.
Prison affairs academic and blogger Alex Cavendish tweeted: "HMP The Mount: hearing about more trouble this morning. "Staff said to have 'lost control' of part of Nash Wing.
"Awaiting more info."
He then added: "HMP The Mount: report that Tornado Team has been called in. Command suite set up."
A Ministry of Justice spokesman confirmed the incident.
He said: "Specially trained prison staff have been deployed to HMP The Mount to resolve an incident involving a number of prisoners.
";The situation at the prison remains contained and there is no risk to the public."
Meanwhile, prison officers have stopped a potential riot from erupting at Erlestoke jail in Wilts.
A MoJ spokesman added: Staff successfully resolved an incident involving a small number of prisoners at HMP Erlestoke on 1 August.
"The offenders responsible will be referred to the police and could spend longer behind bars."
In February 2016 then-justice secretary Michael Gove was filmed being heckled by prisoners at The Mount as he toured the grounds.
At one point, he shakes hands with a prisoner, who then says "what's your name again?"
As Mr Gove goes to leave, adds ";do a better job than that last one, yeah".
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