Latest news with #prisonviolence
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Robert Jenrick's call to arm prison officers is ‘nonsense', governors say
Robert Jenrick's demand for armed prison guards has been described as 'headline-grabbing nonsense' by organisations representing governors and staff. The shadow justice secretary, who has made a series of eye-catching demands over the last few days, said on Sunday that prison officers should be allowed to carry guns and build up 'armouries' to clamp down on violence from Islamist gangs and violent prisoners. Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors' Association, told the Guardian: 'The firearms/lethal force armouries suggestion is just headline-grabbing nonsense. 'If this was needed, why wouldn't armed police be deployed rather than creating another trained force in our service? 'It is likely that the Lord Chancellor [Shabana Mahmood] is considering wider use of protective body armour, but the focus should be on the need for more investment to counter drones and serious organised crime,' he said. The Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has warned that it is only a matter of time before a prison officer is murdered because of a rise in prison violence, has also poured cold water on the Tories' demand for guns in prisons. Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the POA, said: 'We are asking for Tasers and the use of non-lethal options. If we ever need firearm support we have an agreement with chief constables to provide mutual aid. 'The Tories think we need this level of protection but we need to exhaust all other options first, including adequate protections for staff and 'supermax' facilities,' he said. On Friday, a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire was seriously injured when he was stabbed by a violent inmate with a knife that was believed to have been flown into the high-security jail by a drone. Last month, Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, who is serving life for 22 murders, attacked three officers in a separation unit at the high security HMP Frankland, in County Durham. Shabana Mahmood, the lord chancellor, has ordered a review into whether to issue frontline officers with stab vests, as well as a trial of Tasers, and the suspension of prisoners' use of kitchens in separation units used to segregate Islamist terrorists. In an article for the Telegraph, Jenrick said: 'We have to stop pussy-footing around Islamist extremists and violent offenders in jails. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'That means arming specialist prison officer teams with Tasers and stun grenades, as well as giving them access to lethal weapons in exceptional circumstances. 'If prison governors can't easily keep terrorist influencers and radicalising inmates apart from the mainstream prisoners they target, then we don't control our prisons – they do. We must take back control and restore order by giving officers the powers and protection they need.' Whitehall sources said that taking guns on to the prison estate would make officers carrying weapons a 'deadly target' for prison gangs. Jenrick has generated eye-catching headlines over recent days, but has denied that he wishes to replace Kemi Badenoch as Tory leader. On Thursday, he posted a video of himself online confronting people he accused of fare-dodging in central London. A spokesperson for Jenrick has been approached for a comment.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Inmate who stabbed prison guard revealed as serial knifeman Muslim convert who once said it ‘felt good to hurt someone'
A LAG who stabbed a prison officer using a flick-knife smuggled in by drone is a white Muslim convert who once said it 'felt good to hurt someone'. Callom Taylor, 22 — jailed for a string of stabbings — is often heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar' on the prison wing and carries a prayer mat, sources say. 3 3 He carried out his latest attack just after 8.30am on Friday, stabbing a 25-year-old officer in the stomach. He had to be airlifted from maximum-security Long Lartin jail, near Evesham, Worcs, to hospital for emergency surgery. Two weeks before, the prisons watchdog warned of drones being used to smuggle weapons and drugs into Long Lartin, with the jail's surveillance tech branded obsolete. A source said: 'The drone drops here are out of control. They fly in phones, knives and drugs.' He became even more paranoid and obsessive, constantly going on about people disrespecting him. He carries a prayer mat around and calls out Allahu Akbar. A source Taylor, of Sheffield, has a long history of violence. He was locked up in 2022 for a string of attacks including a three-month 'campaign of violence' in which he stabbed four people and assaulted a fifth with nunchucks. He was given a 23-year extended sentence, with a minimum of 18 years in custody, avoiding a life term due to his age. The judge told him: 'You have escaped a life sentence by the narrowest of margins.' The court heard a psychiatric report revealing Taylor admitted experiencing powerful urges to hurt people for no reason. When asked directly, he 'admitted that, in a way, it felt good to hurt someone else'. Inside evil Southport killer's cushy jail life where he STILL gets Maltesers, crisps & other treats despite guard attack Taylor is said to have converted to Islam behind bars at Long Lartin. Our source said: 'The lad converted a while ago and since then it's like he's become someone else. 'He became even more paranoid and obsessive, constantly going on about people disrespecting him. 'He carries a prayer mat around and calls out Allahu Akbar.' Taylor is now believed to have been transferred to the separation unit at top-security Belmarsh jail. West Mercia Police said the attack was not being treated as terror- related, but as a 'disagreement'. It comes after Southport child killer Axel Rudakubana threw boiling water over a warder at Belmarsh last month, and Manchester bomb plotter Hashem Abedi stabbed and burned four officers with cooking oil at Frankland prison in April. Jenrick: Give officers guns PRISON officers should be armed with lethal weapons to combat Islamist gangs, Robert Jenrick claims. The Shadow Justice Secretary said specialist teams in maximum security jails must have access to guns in exceptional circumstances as well as Tasers and stun grenades. It follows a spate of attacks on officers and Islamist gangs controlling prison wings across the UK. Jenrick said: 'Islamist gangs and violent prisoners are out of control. It's a national security emergency.' A Ministry of Justice source said: 'We are building new prisons and take a zero-tolerance approach to violence and extremism inside.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Officers could be murdered in jail attacks
Prison officers need to have stronger protection against attacks by inmates, their union has demanded after four assaults in a week. In the latest, at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire on Friday, an officer had to be airlifted for emergency surgery after being stabbed. Three others were hurt over two days at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire. Now Mark Fairhurst, of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), has said prisoners who pose the highest risk should be "totally locked down". "It's only a matter of time before one of my colleagues is murdered on duty," he added. Mr Fairhurst, the POA's national chair, told BBC Breakfast: "We know our jails are awash with all kinds of illicit items, but we very rarely lock them down." He called for facilities like so-called supermax prisons in the US, in which dangerous inmates are locked up and only have limited access to recreation and other facilities outside their cells. Rise in assaults on prison staff by inmates High-security unit inmates barred from kitchens after attack Prison violence harming rehabilitation - families After Friday's stabbing, West Mercia Police said initial inquiries suggested it was "isolated" and was not being treated as terrorism, and had followed a disagreement between an inmate and staff. In Cambridgeshire, two of the three injured officers had boiling water thrown over them. Responding to those attacks, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) condemned them as "unacceptable". "We will not tolerate assaults on hard-working prison officers and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators," it said. Concerns had already been raised over increased violence in prisons in recent months. In April, the government suspended access to kitchen facilities for high-security inmates, after Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi threw hot oil at officers and stabbed them with a blade, at HMP Frankland in County Durham. The union leader linked the violence to increasing amounts of contraband finding their way into jails, often dropped by drones flying over the prison estate. "Why are our air spaces not tightened? Why do we have ingress of drones in our prisons?" Mr Fairhurst asked. "Surely there must be technology out there that prevents drones entering air spaces?" Earlier this month, police made two arrests after a drone was seen circling above Long Lartin. Mr Fairhurst's warning echoed that of the chief inspector of prisons, who said in January that the issue was "a threat to national security" and that police had effectively "ceded airspace" to criminal gangs. The MoJ said it was "gripping the situation by investing in prison maintenance and security, working with the police and others to tackle serious organised crime". Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Prison officer has emergency surgery after stabbing Prison staff attacks prompt police investigation Two arrested after drone spotted above prison Prison Officers' Association
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Inmate attacks on Long Lartin and Whitemoor officers spark anger
Prison officers need to have stronger protection against attacks by inmates, their union has demanded after four assaults in a the latest, at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire on Friday, an officer had to be airlifted for emergency surgery after being others were hurt over two days at HMP Whitemoor in Mark Fairhurst, of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), has said prisoners who pose the highest risk should be "totally locked down". "It's only a matter of time before one of my colleagues is murdered on duty," he added. Mr Fairhurst, the POA's national chair, told BBC Breakfast: "We know our jails are awash with all kinds of illicit items, but we very rarely lock them down."He called for facilities like so-called supermax prisons in the US, in which dangerous inmates are locked up and only have limited access to recreation and other facilities outside their cells. After Friday's stabbing, West Mercia Police said initial inquiries suggested it was "isolated" and was not being treated as terrorism, and had followed a disagreement between an inmate and Cambridgeshire, two of the three injured officers had boiling water thrown over to those attacks, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) condemned them as "unacceptable"."We will not tolerate assaults on hard-working prison officers and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators," it had already been raised over increased violence in prisons in recent April, the government suspended access to kitchen facilities for high-security inmates, after Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi threw hot oil at officers and stabbed them with a blade, at HMP Frankland in County Durham. Illegal drones The union leader linked the violence to increasing amounts of contraband finding their way into jails, often dropped by drones flying over the prison estate."Why are our air spaces not tightened? Why do we have ingress of drones in our prisons?" Mr Fairhurst asked."Surely there must be technology out there that prevents drones entering air spaces?"Earlier this month, police made two arrests after a drone was seen circling above Long Fairhurst's warning echoed that of the chief inspector of prisons, who said in January that the issue was "a threat to national security" and that police had effectively "ceded airspace" to criminal MoJ said it was "gripping the situation by investing in prison maintenance and security, working with the police and others to tackle serious organised crime". Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rise in assaults on Holme House prison staff
Assaults on staff at a prison were "considerably higher" in 2024 than the previous year, inspectors have said. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said staff at HMP Holme House in Stockton were assaulted by prisoners 90 times in 2024, compared to 40 such incidents in said nine of the assaults last year were considered to be "serious". The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has been approached for comment. In a report published on Thursday, the IMB said there were 324 incidents of violence among prisoners in 2024 compared to 298 the previous year. 'Substance misuse' Inspectors also found that force was used by staff on prisoners 856 times in 2024, compared to 468 times in 2023 and 268 occurrences in 2022. They also said seven prisoners were each subject to force on more than 10 occasions that year, with force used on one particular prisoner 21 times that IMB also found a number of prisoners "under the influence of illicit substances" on each day of its inspections. "Substance misuse continues to be a significant problem in the prison," the report any one time, almost half of the prison population is being helped by a non-clinical drug recovery programme, the team report revealed that of the 1,350 prisoners released from the site last year, 112 individuals had no arranged accommodation for the night of their release.
