CONCERNS have been raised about the safety of staff at The Verne Immigration Removal Centre after reports of a disturbance involving a ‘mob’ of detainees.

Emergency services were called to a disturbance at the former prison on Friday night as 12 members of staff were reportedly backed into the facility’s education centre by 150 detainees who had gathered in one area.

The former prison on Portland officially converted to an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) last year after 60 years as a jail.

John Hancock, South West representative for the Prison Officers’ Association, said that he had spoken to staff from the centre and was told the incident was sparked by a detainee on the roof of the facility with a noose.

The staff were able to get the man unharmed to safety but an estimated 150 detainees then forced the 12 officers on duty into the education centre.

Mr Hancock said: “That’s where the mob turned nasty and smashed windows and the like.”

He said thankfully the detainees were unable to get into the education centre and he feared for what could have happened if they had.

Mr Hancock said: “If they had been able to do that I would have really feared for their safety and there could have been very serious assaults on staff.”

He added that gladly nobody was injured in the incident, however, staff were understandably ‘pretty shaken up by what had happened’.

Mr Hancock said the incident comes amid general concerns for the staffing levels and safety of those working at the centre and said there was an inspection due this coming week.

He said: “I think the staffing levels really need to be reviewed and probably strengthened, particularly I think over weekends.”

Reports of the incident have been posted on social media, with one anonymous poster describing a ‘baying mob’ attacking staff.

A staff member has also posted to thank the response from the emergency services to the incident.

A spokesman for the Home Office confirmed that an incident had occurred at The Verne and that emergency services were called.

They stated: “We are aware of an incident at The Verne Immigration Removal Centre on Friday.

“No detainees or staff were injured, but the emergency services were called as a precaution.”

The prison itself did not wish to comment on the incident.

A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed that they did attend to at around 6.30pm but were on standby as a precaution and did not actually enter the centre.

The Government announced the decision to convert The Verne to an IRC in September 2013 however in March last year it was announced the facility would be reverting back to prison status as a temporary measure.

It officially became an IRC in September last year, six months after it began taking detainees.