According to investigators, the unrest was caused by official steps to eliminate drug use by inmates and also by shortages of tobacco and phonecards, which had run out over the holiday period.

The prison was criticised for its lack of security, bad management and the deployment of inexperienced staff during the riot.

In January 2008 it emerged that inmates at Everthorpe had been regularly smuggling drugs, mobile phones and women's clothing into the prison.

A ladder had been used by an accomplice on the outside to scale the 20-foot perimeter wall of the prison to supply these items, with the racket reportedly continuing for at least six months.

Education at Everthorpe was provided by The Manchester College and East Riding College with courses including Literacy, Numeracy, Art and Design, Information Technology, Business, wall and floor tiling, Painting and Decorating, Bricklaying, Industrial cleaning, and Computer Aided Design.