HM Prison Birmingham was described by one source as the worst prison disturbance in a B category prison in the United Kingdom since the 1990 Strangeways Prison riot. The Birmingham riot caused about £2 million worth of damage.<ref name="bbc21/12/2016">HMP Birmingham riot repairs 'will cost £2m'</ref> This is the third serious incident within under two months, Riots previously happened at Bedford Prison and Lewes Prison and a subsequent riot happened at Swaleside Prison. After the riot inspectors found violence and illegal drug use were still problematic. Some prisoners felt unsafe. Prison wings damaged during the riot were not reopened until April 2017. There was
1990 Strangeways Prison riot not down to the prison department. But for the riot, we would still be in the same old jail banged up all day and slopping out ... The rioters brought this about. These conditions ... should not have cost the lives of a prisoner, a prison officer and two huge court trials. They should have done it years ago but it took a riot to get them to do it. "Slopping out" was abolished in England and Wales by 1996, and was scheduled to be abolished in Scotland by 1999. Due to budget restraints the abolishment was delayed, and by