Inmates' petition pleads for end to "violent attacks" in Dorset jail
Terrified prisoners have signed a petition pleading for an end to violent attacks by gangs of inmates at a Dorset jail, it has been reported.
They claim two wings at Guys Marsh in Shaftesbury are "out of control" and are "frightened there will be a death".
The inmates have sent the petition, which has over a dozen signatures and was smuggled out, to solicitor and Prison Injury Lawyers Association secretary Rhonda Hesling, according to the BBC.
She said it read: "There is no CCTV here at Guys Marsh, staff are never patrolling or around, we could be killed or injured on the wings.
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"There is a high level of assaults here by prison gangs who roam without challenge, and bullying makes everyone feel unsafe. Please help us."
Ms Hesling added: "It would seem there's a systematic failure in the managing of these wings, which is resulting in robbery by other prisoners upon perhaps those who are more weakened and vulnerable.
"There's an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, and a real fear of physical violence."
In a statement, the Prison Service said: "Violence or intimidation in prisons is not tolerated in any form and we take the responsibility of keeping staff, prisoners and visitors safe extremely seriously.
"That's why we have a violence management system in place to deal with incidents quickly and robustly, with serious incidents referred to the police immediately."
Ms Hesling said the Prison Injury Lawyers Association was investigating the claims.
Guys Marsh, a former young offenders' institution, is now a category C training prison.
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