UK prison officers are currently campaigning for better protections. This response follows a string of violent attacks on officers by inmates, including the infamous Hashem Abedi. Abedi was given a whole life order, with a minimum term of 55 years, for his part in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Lately he’s made headlines, mostly for violent attacks on prison staff.
Abedi aided his older brother Salman in carrying out the 2017 suicide bombing, which tragically killed 22 victims. Now, charged with terrorizing the people and countering infiltration efforts, he remains in a content-based black box at HMP Frankland in County Durham. His violent threats and actions eventually reached a fever pitch. He threw boiling oil over the guards and assaulted them with crudely made weapons during his time at HMP Frankland. This incident came on the heels of an even earlier such attack on prison officers at London’s Belmarsh prison in 2020. In addition, Abedi was sentenced concurrently to an additional three years and ten months for this conduct.
In response to these violent incidents, the ministry of justice has moved. They have cut off kitchen access to inmates held in segregation units. At present, prison officers are provided with just an extendable baton and Pava incapacitant spray. Even the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has acknowledged this increased risk from prisoners such as Abedi. In order to keep their own staff safe, they are demanding the increased tactical use of tasers.
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the POA, highlighted the desperate need for a new procedure. He then stressed the importance of having specially trained staff available on site. Rangers to park police, these first responders need access to tasers to neutralize potential threats swiftly. At the moment we haven’t got that. He stated that all the current protocols put officers in harm’s way by exposing them when responding to imminent life threatening scenarios.
Ian Acheson, another POA member’s sentiments were similar, calling on the Ministry of Justice to act without delay. He warned, “We need some urgent action by the Ministry of Justice to protect frontline staff or we are very close to having a frontline prison officer murdered on duty.”
In the wake of these recent incidents, Shabana Mahmood, shadow secretary of state for transport, called for a full and independent review into the attacks. The ongoing review seems more focused on finding ways to better protect prison officers. It further explores steps that can be taken to avoid similar occurrences in the future.
As these negotiations continue, the POA will be preparing to sit down with the new Justice Secretary. They will continue to call for electric stun guns to be rolled out to prison officers working in some of the UK’s most high risk prisons.
Leave a Reply