Audio: HMP Oakwood prisoners treated like 'animals', claim
Prisoners who threatened staff at HMP Oakwood during a nine-hour siege are being treated like 'animals', it has been claimed.
The £150 million jail was the scene of serious disorder on Sunday night and allegations of a cover-up have been made over the extent of the trouble.
Relatives and friends of inmates have spoken out in defence of prisoners, saying they have 'had enough' of their treatment.
Kerry Cooper's husband is serving time for burglary.
Prison bosses deny cover-up over HMP Oakwood trouble
She said inmates were being locked inside cells and having possessions taken off them for 'no reason at all'.
"That's why they're all kicking off in there, because they've all had enough and they've all come together and just thought 'we'll send a big massive riot to say we're not putting up with how they are treating us'," she said.
"They shouldn't be treated like that."
"Okay, they've done the crime but how they are being treated at the minute because of being locked in a cell and nothing - I think it's wrong."
Audio courtesy of BBC Radio Four Today Programme
Another woman who was visiting an inmate in the jail said: "They were all on lock down. None of their cell phones were working or nothing.
"They had no breakfast. Just their tea before which was a jacket potato and a bag of cheese.
"They're just getting treated like animals basically. It's very sad."
