It was dubbed the 'Prison for the 21st Century', within days it exploded in an 'orgy of violence'

-Credit:M.E.N.
-Credit:M.E.N.


Wearing pillowcases for hoods, the 60-strong mob rampaged through the brand new jail.

As guards struggled to quell the violence, the rioters - led by notorious Salford hardman Vincent Clay - seized control of their wing. After barricading themselves in, they began setting cells on fire, ripping off doors and smashing up the furniture.

Then they began targeting other inmates - including a notorious child killer - in what would later be described as an 'orgy of violence'.

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It was a far cry from the scenes just a few days earlier when Forest Bank Prison had been officially opened in a blaze of publicity by Princess Anne and former Beirut hostage Terry Waite. Built at a cost of £46m, the category B jail in Pendlebury was dubbed a 'prison for the 21st Century'.

As the VIPs met inmates making garden furniture in the woodwork shop, Mr Waite praised the new jail, describing himself 'very impressed with the facilities'.

Terry Waite greets Princess Anne at the official opening of Forest Bank Prison -Credit:M.E.N.
Terry Waite greets Princess Anne at the official opening of Forest Bank Prison -Credit:M.E.N.

"Some people might say they are far too luxurious," he added. "But it is a great punishment to have a loss of liberty, whether it be in a mansion or a pig sty. I can say that from experience."

Speaking during the Royal visit, one director even boasted of a 'copybook' start since the first prisoners moved in in January 2000. But behind the corporate spin teething problems were fuelling a growing frustration among the 1,000 male inmates.

Forest Bank pictured at the time of the riot
Forest Bank pictured at the time of the riot

And when, on the evening of Sunday, July 30, 2000, the telephone system broke down the protests took a dark turn. As tensions grew, it's thought the spark for the violence was an inmate throwing a pool ball at a guard in the recreation room.

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Several fires were lit in the cells and stairways, meaning parts of D block could not be used. As a police helicopter flew overhead, the rioters ripped off a steel staircase and handrail and used it as a battering rams to smash down cell doors.

With the situation threatening to spiral even further out of control reinforcements from Strangeways and other prisons across the north west were drafted in. A so-called 'Tornado Team' - specially trained prison officers with riot gear - also rushed to the scene.

How the M.E.N. reported the riot
How the M.E.N. reported the riot

The reinforcements did the trick. After a seven hour stand-off the mob finally surrended at around 3.30am and were removed one at a time from the wing.

When the dust settled the damage was estimated at £100,000 and the wing could not be used for 19 days while repairs took place. The following July four of the riot's ringleaders were jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court after admitting prison mutiny and violent disorder.

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Prosecutor Andrew O'Byrne told court: "The inmates embarked upon an orgy of vandalism. Some of them set fires on the wing and threw burning items out of the windows into the yard below.

They managed to tear a steel staircase and handrail from its mountings and used it as a battering ram to open cell doors."

Vincent Clay
Vincent Clay

But one of the main antagonists was not in the dock. In November 2000 Vincent Clay was gunned down in a 'hail of bullets' after a fracas on a street in Pendleton, Salford.

Mr Clay, who a court heard had built up a 'fearsome reputation' in the Salford underworld, had been charged with prison mutiny after the Forest Bank riot. At the time of his death he was out of prison while awaiting trial for drug offences. His killers have never been caught.