Strangeways 'locked down' with prisoners returned to their cells after inmate got onto roof

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Strangeways was 'locked down' after an inmate climbed onto the roof, the Manchester Evening News understands. A prisoner at the high-security jail just outside Manchester city centre, officially known as HMP Manchester, clambered onto the roof and began a protest at around 4:30pm this evening (Wednesday) and at the time of writing has been up there for over six hours.

The M.E.N has now been told that immediately after the protest began a lockdown was initiated with all prisoners being returned to their cells, as is the procedure in such cases. READ MORE: LIVE: Prisoner spotted on roof of Strangeways prison - latest updates It is not clear if any restrictions are still in place.

The Prison Service declined to comment on the issue. Earlier a spokesman said: "We are working with emergency services to bring the prisoner down safely." Specialist negotiators have been deployed with police also at the scene and a cordon in place on the streets surrounding the prison where crowds have been gathering.

The as-yet unidentified prisoner daubed 'FREE IPPZ' across the roof of the jail, in an apparent dig at a now abolished court sanction titled Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences (IPP).