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Prison Officers Call for Enhanced Safety Measures Following Violent Attack
Prison officers are set to advocate for the immediate provision of electric stun guns in British prisons, particularly those housing the most dangerous inmates, during an upcoming meeting with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. This meeting has been prompted by a recent incident at HMP Frankland, where three guards were assaulted, reportedly by convicted terrorist Hashem Abedi.
In the brutal attack, which occurred in a kitchen area of the separation unit, two guards suffered serious injuries after being attacked with hot cooking fat and subsequently stabbed, with one officer receiving five stab wounds to the torso.
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) is urging for all prison staff to be supplied with stab vests and for electric stun guns to be issued to selected officers. They are also calling for the implementation of a “Supermax”-style regime for Britain’s most dangerous inmates, inspired by similar systems used in the United States.
Mark Fairhurst, the chair of the POA, emphasized the need for these measures, stating the tactical use of Taser devices should be an option during life-threatening situations. He highlighted that the current tools available, such as PAVA spray and batons, are insufficient to protect staff when faced with violent attacks.
Electric stun guns, capable of delivering a voltage of 50,000 volts to immobilize a suspect, are presented as a less lethal alternative to firearms. However, concerns about their safety have been raised, with some instances linked to fatalities.
Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, is serving a lengthy 55-year sentence. Following his attack on the guards, the separation unit at HMP Frankland remains under scrutiny, with ongoing investigations conducted by counter-terrorism police due to Abedi’s criminal background.
Fairhurst pointed out that police forces across the UK are already equipped with electric stun guns for use in public safety scenarios. He argues that prison officers protecting high-risk prisoners should have access to similar tools when their safety is at stake.
He elaborated on the dangers faced by prison staff in high-security environments, stating, “When staff are assaulted by armed individuals, our current defenses are not enough. A situation where a prisoner wields a sharp object demands a more robust response than what we currently possess.”
The POA’s proposal emphasizes equipping dedicated response teams at the highest-security facilities, which include HMP Frankland, Belmarsh, Full Sutton, Long Lartin, and Whitemoor, all known for housing exceptionally dangerous inmates.
During the meeting with Mahmood, the POA is expected to discuss the proposal for implementing strict separation unit protocols, akin to those seen in Supermax facilities. Under this plan, inmates classified as high-risk would only leave their cells under strict supervision and would not interact with other prisoners, thereby reducing potential violence.
Fairhurst described the current treatment of these inmates as overly lenient, stating, “The facility is designated as a separation center for a reason, yet we are treating these individuals like the general prison population.”
The Justice Ministry has refrained from commenting but has revealed that a review of prison protocols is underway, which includes measures to restrict inmates’ access to knives and homemade meals in kitchen areas. The investigation into the recent attack focuses on how the makeshift weapon was created and any potential links to violent extremist ideologies.
Additionally, it is worth noting that Anjem Choudary, a notorious figure who was sentenced to life for leading a terrorist organization, is also housed in the separation unit at HMP Frankland, underscoring the dangerous nature of the prison environment.
Source
www.theguardian.com