Prison officers in the UK are set to demand the immediate provision of electric stun guns for staff members to enhance their safety while guarding the country’s most dangerous inmates.
This call comes ahead of a meeting with the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Wednesday, following a violent attack on officers at HMP Frankland in County Durham by Hashem Abedi, one of the perpetrators of the Manchester Arena bombing.
Abedi, who had previously been convicted for his role in the bombing, threw hot oil at prison officers and stabbed them with makeshift weapons during the incident. Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), stated that the association is calling for the tactical use of tasers in such situations. Fairhurst explained that officers are currently left with limited options for self-defense, as extendable batons and Pava incapacitant spray have not proven sufficient in life-threatening encounters.
The POA is also urging for all prison staff to be equipped with stab vests, and has called for more stringent security measures, including American “Supermax”-style rules for the most dangerous inmates. Under these proposed measures, high-risk prisoners would only leave their cells when handcuffed and escorted by three officers, and they would not be allowed to mix with other prisoners.
In response to the attack, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a full independent review of the incident, which has sparked outrage among the victims’ families and survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing. The MoJ is also reviewing protective body armor for prison officers, but no mention of electric stun guns was included in their statement.
Abedi, who was serving a life sentence for his role in the bombing, had previously attacked prison officers at Belmarsh prison in 2020, for which he received an additional sentence. He has since been returned to Belmarsh after the incident at HMP Frankland.
