Changes to Officer Protection in Prisons set to begin

Changes to Officer Protection in Prisons set to begin

Improved new Protective Body Armour is about to be received by prison officers. This comes after safety concerns in prison’s throughout the UK.

The government is getting ready to start providing improved protective gear for prison guards, which will include body armour and electronic safety tasers. This has come about due to the increasing violence in English and Welsh prisons and the resulting concern for staff safety.

A series of worrying events in secure facilities has prompted a new review by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of prison safety protocols.

Why Now? The Rising Threat in Prisons

Employees at ultra-secure prisons like HMP Long Lartin & HMP Whitemoor must nowadays contend with extraordinarily complex threats, vulnerabilities for prison officers have been highlighted in recent attacks with one of the most recent cases involving a prison officer getting attacked by inmates who are linked to terrorism cases.

One prison officer was attacked with an improvised blade at HMP Woodhill in a series of attacks over a 24 hour period, the officer was took to hospital following injuries to his ear and neck.

The Government’s Response: Equipment First, Not Firearms

The Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, has called for a complete reassessment of protective gear, especially items designed to guard against knives, such as stab vests. She also wants to ensure that the use of tasers is properly controlled and that only officers trained to do so are allowed to use them.

In a recent statement, Mahmood  said , “We must protect those who protect us. That starts with ensuring that every officer has the right kit to deal with violent or high-risk situations.”

Robert Jenrick, the shadow secretary has called for officers to be armed with “lethal weapons”, this approach has not been accepted by the Lord Chancellor who is opting for gear to first protect prison officers.

The body armour that is under consideration for prison staff comprises of:

Upgraded Stab-Resistant Vests: The vests will have even better side protection to help guards against slash and puncture wounds.

Slash-Proof Gloves: Additional hand protection against cuts and slashes.

Neck Protection: Extra protective equipment intended for the neck region, to ensure protection from strikes.

Spit Guards: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, these have gained acceptance and are meant to safeguard officers from inmates spitting on them.

What’s Next?

The MoJ  is expected to publish the findings of its equipment review later this summer with trials of new protective gear, including stab-vests with enhanced coverage, already being underway in several high-risk prisons. If successful, rollout could begin by the end of the year showing a shift towards a more fortified and officer focused security strategy.

As a practitioner it is important to think critically about how we address offenders in and out of prison, some arguments against the “lethal weapons” proposed by the shadow secretary are that they would only increase tensions and likelihood of harm.