Governors have lost control of prison in Staffordshire, union says

The Guardian

02-05-2025

Governors have been accused of losing control of a Staffordshire jail after a union claimed that a male officer was stabbed in the head and two female colleagues were punched in the face during serious disturbances on Tuesday.
The Prison Officers' Association is demanding a clearout of hidden makeshift weapons from HMP Swinfen Hall near Lichfield after a third outbreak of violence over recent weeks.
The union said that all three prison officers went to hospital on Tuesday, while prisoners attempted to take a fourth officer hostage.
Swinfen Hall, which holds about 600 men aged 18-28 serving between four years and life, was placed under 'lockdown' on Tuesday and officers wearing riot gear were sent into G wing to break up a violent incident.
Emergency services reportedly attended the same prison on 28 March after an inmate was stabbed. On 21 March, another prisoner was taken to hospital after receiving trauma care for serious injuries.
Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the POA, said he had spoken to union representatives and officers at the prison.
'This was far from a minor incident,' said Fairhurst. 'A member of staff received stab wounds and was stamped on, whilst another was nearly taken hostage. Two female staff who responded were also hospitalised.
'It is clear that senior leaders at Swinfen Hall have lost control and we now need a reset which involves a full lockdown search to eradicate weapons and illicit items, coupled with a regime refresh that reduces the amount of prisoners unlocked at any one time.'
The union also said that in March, a serious incident occurred where approximately 20 prisoners fought with each other but then turned on staff, resulting in an officer being assaulted with a pool cue. Emergency transfers were needed to stabilise the wing.
Concerns have been growing about violence across prisons, in particular among young men. Last week the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, authorised for the first time the use of synthetic pepper spray, or Pava, against 15- to 18-year-olds after an increase in violence in young offender institutions.
Mahmood has also announced a trial deployment of Tasers to prison officers in high-security jails, a snap review of whether they should be equipped with stab vests and the suspension of kitchen access for offenders in separation units.
It follows Hashem Abedi's assault on officers at HMP Frankland using two homemade knives and hot oil. He has been moved to HMP Belmarsh, in south London, to continue to serve his life sentence for his part in 22 murders in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack.
In April 2001, HMP Swinfen Hall was a young offender institution and was named as a centre of excellence by the then prison watchdog for its anti-bullying policies and programmes.
The prison now specialises in taking young offenders who are serving between four years and life. A quarter of the inmates have committed serious sexual offences, and many others have been involved in gang-related violence.
As a category C prison, it is supposed to offer education and training to prisoners. In December, the prison watchdog, Charlie Taylor, said the prison regime 'lacked purpose', with nearly a third of the prisoners locked in their cells and nearly half (45%) taking illegal drugs.
Assaults in prisons have been rising, with an average of 74 a day recorded in England and Wales last year, including 25 assaults a day inflicted on staff, House of Commons library research has shown.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Violence in prison will not be tolerated, and we will always push for the strongest punishment for attacks on our hard-working staff and do whatever we can to protect them. The lord chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents.'