Prison officers are set to demand the immediate introduction of electric stun guns to protect staff in Britain's most dangerous prisons when they meet Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood this week. The Prison Officers' Association (POA) has called the meeting after a violent attack on three guards at HMP Frankland, allegedly by convicted terrorist Hashem Abedi.
The attack, which took place on 12 April in a kitchen area of the separation unit, left two officers seriously injured. They were doused in hot cooking fat and stabbed, with one officer receiving five stab wounds to the torso. Abedi, 28, brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, is serving a 55-year sentence.
The POA is calling for electric stun guns, which fire 50,000 volts and are considered a less lethal alternative to firearms, to be issued to specialist response teams in at least the highest-security prisons. Mark Fairhurst, POA chair, said: 'We now need the tactical use of Taser as an option when faced with life-threatening situations. The threat in our prisons is such that we need that option available.'
Fairhurst argued that current equipment, such as PAVA spray and batons, is insufficient against attackers with sharp-edged weapons. He said: 'A sharp-edged weapon is as deadly as a knife. The idea we are going to fight them off with a baton and a canister of spray is putting my members’ lives at risk.' The POA also demands stab vests for all staff and a 'Supermax'-style regime for the most dangerous inmates, including restricted movement and privileges.
The Ministry of Justice has not commented on whether it will consider issuing Tasers, but has announced a review into the attack. Mahmood said: 'This will look into how this was able to happen, and what we must do to better protect our prison officers in the future.' The attack is being investigated by counter-terrorism police due to Abedi's background.
