Murder arrest as man dies after alleged Ebbw Vale assault
His family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers."We understand that reports of this nature will cause concern for our communities," Det Ch Supt Nick Wilkie said."We do not consider there to be any on-going risk to the public," he added.
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The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tasers to be issued to staff in male prisons in government crack down on violence
Tasers are set to be issued to some staff in male prisons as the government attempts to crack down on 'unacceptable' record levels of violence. Specialist officers from the Operational Response and Resilience Unit based in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and Doncaster, South Yorkshire, will be the first to become equipped with electric stun guns when the pilot launches on Monday. as she attended the base in Kidlington last week. The trial in England and Wales will run until enough data has been collected to determine if Tasers should be more widely used, according to the Ministry of Justice – but Ms Mahmood said she hoped to have updates in the autumn. The launch comes after rates of assaults on prison staff reached record levels last year, rising by 13 per cent in the 12 months up to December 2024, according to government data. There were also 10,496 assaults on staff in the 12 months to September 2024 – a 23 per cent increase from the previous 12 months and a new peak. Unions welcomed the new trial, but called on the government to address the roots of violence in jail. Last week, officers demonstrated how they would use Tasers on violent inmates in scenarios where there is a significant threat to safety – such as hostage situations or riots. Speaking to reporters at the Kidlington base, Ms Mahmood said: 'I inherited a situation with completely unacceptable levels of violence. I'm not willing to tolerate that. I'm determined to do everything I can to keep prison staff safe. 'They have been asking for Tasers to be allowed to be used in our prison estate for years and years and years, and I'm very pleased to have been able to greenlight this trial.' In April this year, Manchester Arena plotter Hashem Abedi targeted prison staff at HMP Frankland with boiling oil and homemade weapons in a planned ambush. Four prison officers were injured at the jail in Brasside, County Durham, with three taken to hospital. 'The incident of Frankland has really forced the pace on further roll-out of these measures,' Ms Mahmood said. Southport killer Axel Rudakubana also allegedly attacked a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh in May by pouring boiling water over them. Union bosses called for officers to be given stab vests and protective equipment, with Ms Mahmood announcing in June that officers would be told to wear body armour at close supervision centres, separation centres and segregation units in the highest categories of prisons in England and Wales. The trial will use the Taser 7 model, which generates 50,000 volts when fired, with the voltage dropping to 1,500 volts on contact with the skin to incapacitate the target. The T7 model is also a two-shot weapon, enabling officers to shoot a second time in the event they miss their target the first time. The Tasers will be worn by officers on their tactical vest in a secure holster, making the weapon visible to inmates as a deterrent, officers told Ms Mahmood last week. They added that the device also collects data – such as how long it was discharged for – which will contribute to the trial. Officers already have access to batons and Pava spray, a synthetic form of pepper spray, in men's prisons in the public sector. The Ministry of Justice announced in April Pava spray is due to be made available 'in limited circumstances' to a select number of specialist staff at the three public sector young offender institutions – including YOI Werrington, Wetherby and Feltham A. The Taser trial is part of a £40 million package announced last month to boost security across the prison estate, including £10 million specifically for anti-drone measures such as new netting and reinforced windows, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said on Monday. 'Officers will be subject to robust accountability measures, each deployment of a taser will be reviewed,' a spokesperson for the MoJ added. A spokesperson for the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said: 'The POA will always support any initiative that will help protect our members. 'However, as welcome as this initiative is we need to address the reasons why prison officers need Tasers in the first place. 'Violence in our prisons is out of control and apathetic prison managers would rather put the prison regime before the safety of their staff. 'We urgently need action to address overcrowding, understaffing, drugs and the other root causes of prison violence.'
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Violent inmates now face being tasered by prison officers as Justice Secretary vows to 'keep staff safe'
Violent inmates now face being tasered by prison officers as part of Government efforts to clamp down on record levels of assaults on staff. Specialist officers based in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and Doncaster, South Yorkshire will be the first to be equipped with Tasers during a trial looking into their use in jails. Rates of assaults on prison staff reached record levels last year, rising by 13 per cent in the 12 months up to December 2024, according to Government data. There were also 10,496 assaults on staff in the 12 months to September 2024 – a 23 per cent increase from the previous 12 months and a new peak. In April this year, Manchester Arena plotter Hashem Abedi targeted prison staff at HMP Frankland with boiling oil and homemade weapons in a planned ambush. Four prison officers were injured at the jail in Brasside, County Durham, with three taken to hospital. Southport killer Axel Rudakubana also allegedly attacked a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh, south-east London, in May by pouring boiling water over them. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she is 'determined to keep prison staff safe' amid the 'completely unacceptable levels of violence'. Ms Mahmood last week attended the base in Kidlington to meet specialist officers from the Operational Response and Resilience Unit of HM Prison and Probation Service. They showed Ms Mahmood how they would use Tasers on violent inmates in scenarios where there is a significant threat to safety, such as hostage situations or riots. The trial will run until enough data has been collected to determine if Tasers should be more widely used, according the Ministry of Justice. But the Justice Secretary said she hoped to have updates in the autumn. 'I inherited a situation with completely unacceptable levels of violence,' she told reporters at the Kidlington base last week. 'I'm not willing to tolerate that. I'm determined to do everything I can to keep prison staff safe. 'They have been asking for Tasers to be allowed to be used in our prison estate for years and years and years, and I'm very pleased to have been able to greenlight this trial.' Ms Mahmood admitted the incident at HMP Frankland had 'really forced the pace on further roll–out of these measures'. She said a roll–out of Tasers for local prison staff teams across the UK will be examined as part of the trial, adding: 'I think it's right that we start looking at the trial through the prism of our national capabilities. 'Of course I will consider what the trial shows, but from my perspective this is very much the beginning.' Officers already have access to batons and Pava spray, a synthetic form of pepper spray, in men's prisons in the public sector. The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said it welcomed the move to further equip officers, but added the Government needed to address the roots of violence in jail. 'The POA will always support any initiative that will help protect our members,' a spokesperson for the trade union said. 'However, as welcome as this initiative is we need to address the reasons why prison officers need Tasers in the first place. 'Violence in our prisons is out of control and apathetic prison managers would rather put the prison regime before the safety of their staff. 'We urgently need action to address overcrowding, understaffing, drugs and the other root causes of prison violence.'
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Delta pilot arrested in front of shocked passengers on flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco after landing into SFO
A DELTA co-pilot has been arrested and cops were reportedly seen storming the cockpit after the passenger plane landed. Around 10 agents, some from Homeland Security, boarded the plane after it landed at San Francisco airport on Saturday. The plane had taken off from Minneapolis airport earlier in the day, as reported by the ABC affiliate KGO-TV. Travelers were preparing to disembark when they saw the commotion at the front of the plane. 'We were all shocked and stunned. What was happening?' one passenger, known as Sarah, said. Sarah documented what unfolded on board the aircraft. "They barged through and stormed the cockpit," she said. "They removed the co-pilot, cuffed him, presumably arrested him." Sarah said the co-pilot was then flanked by officers, walked down the aisle, and taken off the plane. She recalled how the cabin crew seemed bewildered by what was going on. "I looked at him [the pilot] and I said 'What's going on?'" one told the Fox affiliate KMSP-TV. The traveler said passengers were standing up on the plane, a Boeing 757-300, getting ready to grab their bags from the overhead lockers. Another passenger told The San Francisco Chronicle that some of the agents who stormed onto the plane were carrying guns. The traveler said the agents had badges and vests with letters on them. Once the co-pilot was taken off the plane, some agents then re-boarded the aircraft to collect his belongings. A Boeing 757-300 twin-engine jet can carry up to 295 passengers and can travel at a maximum speed of 571 mph. The plane's arrival into San Francisco was delayed due to heavy fog. More than 50 million people passed through San Francisco airport last year. In 2023, the airport was named the 13th busiest airport in the US. "This is an ongoing local investigation with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office," a Homeland Security spokesperson told The Chronicle. Delta officials are yet to issue a statement. 2 .
