Inmates charged over Qld smoking protest

Eleven inmates have been charged with staging a rooftop protest over a smoking ban at a prison west of Brisbane.

Five prisoners allegedly climbed out of an exercise yard and onto the roof of the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre in Gatton last week.

Police allege that another six prisoners held a protest in the yard at the same time.

It's understood they were protesting against a ban on smoking in state prisons.

Corrective services locked down the prison and after lengthy negotiations the inmates climbed down and were arrested by police.

They were charged with unlawful assembly and riot or mutiny and are due to face Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 3.

The six prisoners in the yard were charged with unlawful assembly, riot or mutiny. Two were also charged with one count each of wilful damage.

All six are due to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 17.