Government to give prison officers body armour after Frankland attack
The announcement from the Government comes days after a prison officer was seriously injured in a stabbing at HMP Long Lartin, and a month after an attack by terrorist Hashem Abedi in Durham high security prison Frankland.
The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, specified that this new measure would be applicable to close supervision centres, separation centres, and segregation units within the highest category of prisons in England and Wales.
Government suspended the use of self-cook facilities and opened an inquiry into the attack in Durham.
It follows repeated calls from prison officers, current and former, as well as politicians in the region, to fund stab-proof vests for staff working with some of the most dangerous criminals in the country.
(Image: Chris Booth) “Stab proof vests are essential,” ex-Frankland officer Claire Lewis said.
Claire suffered a career-ending stab wound inside the prison in 2010 after being attacked with a broken bottle.
“The attacks are only going to escalate with the level of prisoners that are in jail. My fear is a prison officer is going to get murdered.”
The incident in Frankland left staff ‘extremely angry’, the national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, Mark Fairhurst, told The Northern Echo at the time.
“They had to clean up the blood of their own colleagues.”
“We want adequate protection. We have been calling for years for stab-proof vests,” he said.
“Listen to us and give us the same protection as the police.”
Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi was moved to Belmarsh after the attack. (Image: GMP/PA Wire) The Government commissioned Jonathan Hall KC to conduct an independent review into the events at HMP Frankland, which will determine the sufficiency of current protection for prison officers.
In April, Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy wrote to Mrs Mahmood saying a lack of equipment “leaves officers exposed to attacks like the one at Frankland, where makeshift weapons and scalding oil were used to a devastating effect.
“This is unarguably a high-risk environment, and equipping officers with stab proof vests would mark a vital step to safeguarding their lives in the case of further incidents of this nature.”
Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick, repeated his concerns about the safety of prison officers, cautioning that without further action, a death could occur.
He said: “Brave prison officers are under attack if the Government doesn’t act now.
“I’m warning once again that an officer will be killed on the Justice Secretary’s watch.”
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Mr Jenrick further criticised the current conditions within prisons, highlighting how Southport triple killer Axel Rudakubana, after allegedly assaulting an officer with boiling water, still has access to treats like Pringles and Maltesers.
Ms Mahmood responded to Mr Jenrick’s concerns, criticising the previous Tory government for the high levels of violence within prisons and the subsequent loss of experienced officers.
She said: “That is inheritance that I have received and that is the mess that this Government is clearing up.”