Latest news with #SteveGillan
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Prison officer attacked with boiling hot water in high security jail in latest outrage blighting prison safety
A prison officer has been attacked with boiling hot water in a high security jail in the latest outrage blighting prison safety. The officer was scalded with liquid straight from a kettle after he entered an inmate's cell at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire. Another was left with a broken jaw and bleeding on the brain following an assault in a workshop in a second violent attack just this week at the prison, which houses some of the country's worst criminals, The Telegraph reports. The attacks follow a string of other assaults involving prisoners in recent weeks, including Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi. Just last month it was revealed convicted murderer John Mansfield was killed after having a weight smashed on his head during a brutal attack at the high security prison. The shocking security breach took place a day after Abedi attacked three prison officers with hot oil inside a separation unit at HMP Frankland, Co Durham. And just weeks ago a 'specialist' prison offer had their throat slashed by an inmate using an improvised weapon at HMP Woodhill. It comes amid warnings from experts that there has been a 'collapse in security' in the jails housing Britain's most dangerous criminals. The Prison Service is currently conducting a 'snap review' into the use of protective body armour for prison officers, while the use of tasers is being trialled in jails. Reacting to attacks earlier this month, Prison Officers' Association General Secretary Steve Gillan said: 'Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. 'It appears that HMPPS have learned nothing. They continue to ignore the calls from our members on the front line for urgent action to protect Prison Officers from violence. 'It is clear Prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect Prison Officers before there is a fatality.'w HMP Whitemoor is a men's Categoiry A Prison first opened in 1991 which holds 500 of the country's most dangerous lags. It includes vocational training courses in construction and craft, with worships including a laundry and recycling. A prison service spokesman told The Telegraph: 'Police are investigating two unacceptable attacks on members of staff at HMP Whitemoor. 'We will not tolerate assaults on hardworking prison officers and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrato
North Wales Chronicle
15-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Call for action to protect prison officers ‘before there is a fatality'
One officer at HMP Woodhill near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday, and needed hospital treatment, the Prison Officers' Association said. In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the POA said. Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged on Tuesday. At Gartree prison in Leicestershire, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague. Geoff Willetts, from the POA, said that at HMP Woodhill: 'A prisoner was told to return to his cell, this resulted in a specialist officer being slashed with an improvised weapon, sustaining injuries to the neck and ear. 'The officer attended hospital where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.' — POA (@POAUnion) May 14, 2025 He added: 'Meanwhile at Gartree Prison, Market Harborough, staff attended a medical emergency where a prisoner faked an epileptic fit. 'A prison officer who attended to assist was assaulted then had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm.' The POA repeated calls for boosted protection for prison officers. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said: 'Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. 'It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality.' Thames Valley Police said they were investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment. A prison service spokesperson said: 'Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day. 'We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe. 'The Lord Chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly.'
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Leader Live
Call for action to protect prison officers ‘before there is a fatality'
One officer at HMP Woodhill near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday, and needed hospital treatment, the Prison Officers' Association said. In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the POA said. Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged on Tuesday. At Gartree prison in Leicestershire, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague. Geoff Willetts, from the POA, said that at HMP Woodhill: 'A prisoner was told to return to his cell, this resulted in a specialist officer being slashed with an improvised weapon, sustaining injuries to the neck and ear. 'The officer attended hospital where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.' — POA (@POAUnion) May 14, 2025 He added: 'Meanwhile at Gartree Prison, Market Harborough, staff attended a medical emergency where a prisoner faked an epileptic fit. 'A prison officer who attended to assist was assaulted then had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm.' The POA repeated calls for boosted protection for prison officers. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said: 'Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. 'It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality.' Thames Valley Police said they were investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment. A prison service spokesperson said: 'Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day. 'We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe. 'The Lord Chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Plea for urgent action after prison officer attacks
A prisons union has called for action "before there is a fatality" after an officer was slashed in the neck and another had a TV thrown at them. The attacks happened at HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire and Gartree Prison in Leicestershire. The general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), Steve Gillan, said "escalating levels of violence" were "out of control" in prisons in England and Wales. The Prison Service said it would "do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe". One officer at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday and needed stitches in hospital, the POA said. In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the union added. Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged later on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at Gartree Prison near Market Harborough, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague, the POA said. The union repeated its calls for boosted protection for prison officers. Mr Gillan said: "Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. "It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality." Thames Valley Police said it was investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day. "We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe. "The Lord Chancellor [Shabana Mahmood] has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly." On Wednesday, Mahmood said more than 1,000 inmates would be released early to free up prison spaces, as the government continued to grapple with an overcrowding crisis. Additional reporting by PA Media. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. HM Prison Service POA
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Woodhill and Gartree prison attacks sees plea for urgent action
A prisons union has called for action "before there is a fatality" after an officer was slashed in the neck and another had a TV thrown at attacks happened at HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire and Gartree Prison in general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), Steve Gillan, said "escalating levels of violence" were "out of control" in prisons in England and Prison Service said it would "do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe". One officer at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday and needed stitches in hospital, the POA a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the union officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged later on at Gartree Prison near Market Harborough, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague, the POA said. The union repeated its calls for boosted protection for prison Gillan said: "Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales."It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality."Thames Valley Police said it was investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment.A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day."We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe."The Lord Chancellor [Shabana Mahmood] has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly."On Wednesday, Mahmood said more than 1,000 inmates would be released early to free up prison spaces, as the government continued to grapple with an overcrowding reporting by PA Media. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
