An inmate has scrawled a message on Strangeways' roof referencing a controversial court sentence.
The inmate first climbed onto the roof of the prison, officially known as HMP Manchester, at around 4.30pm today, Wednesday, April 12. Emergency services are in attendance and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) negotiators are currently attempting to talk down the inmate.
The inmate, whose identity is unknown, has repeatedly been heard shouting "free IPP", which is believed to be a reference to Imprisonment for Public Protection court sentences. The much-criticised indeterminate sentence, which detained offenders until they were no longer deemed a risk to the public, was scrapped in 2012.
READ MORE: Live updates as inmate climbs onto roof of Strangeways prison
However, many inmates remain behind bars who were previously given IPP sentences. Shortly after 8pm, the prisoner wrote "Free IPPz" on the roof.
A large crowd of onlookers has arrived near the prison, north of Manchester's city centre, to watch the protestor. He has waved to the crowd of onlookers, made a love heart gesture to the press cameras, and held up a metal pole.
GMP officers have advised the public to avoid the area while negotiations are taking place. Police have closed Southall Street and a North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) ambulance is in attendance.
It is understood the man, who is wearing a waterproof bin bag, has not threatened to harm himself or anyone else. GMP said there was "believed to be no wider threat to the public".
A spokesperson for the Prison Service said: "We are working with emergency services to bring the prisoner down safely." Specialist negotiators have been speaking to the inmate for over four-and-a-half hours.
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 4:30pm today (Wednesday 12 April 2023), officers were called to a concern for the welfare of a man on Southall Street. Emergency services are currently at the scene with specialist negotiators.
"Road closures in and around Southall Street will remain in place until further notice. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area. There is believed to be no wider threat to the public."
The building – still known to many by its former name 'Strangeways' - is one of the country's largest high security, category A men's prisons. The jail, which has capacity for more than 1,200 inmates including some of the most notorious from Liverpool and the North West, was rebuilt following the infamous Strangeways riot of April 1990 – the biggest disturbance in prison service history.
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