- Tasers launched in jails following
vicious HMP Frankland attack and rollout of protective body
armour
- ‘Lockdown' searches ramped up in
high-security prisons
- £40 million investment to stem flow
of contraband that fuels violence and keep the public safe, part
of the Plan for Change
Violence in prisons will be clamped down on as specially trained
staff are issued with Tasers as part of a new trial today
launched by the Lord Chancellor today (28 July).
Once triggered, the devices generate1,500 volts of electricity to
incapacitate an attacker instantly – at distance – protecting
staff and other prisoners from harm.
The same model Taser is already used widely by police forces
across the country. They will be deployed in high-risk scenarios
in jails where there is a significant threat to safety like
hostage situations and riots.
Today's intervention follows the vicious attack on three prison
officers at HMP Frankland in April, and forms part of the
Government's pledge to act decisively to protect hardworking
prison staff as part of its Plan for Change.
It follows recent action to roll out protective body armour to
those working in high-security settings with the most dangerous
prisoners.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, , said:
“This Government will never tolerate violence against our brave
prison officers, and we will not allow our jails to be controlled
by fear or disorder.
“We're already rolling out protective body armour and by
trialling Tasers we're making sure staff have the tools they need
to keep themselves safe.
“Wherever I find there is opportunity to strengthen our defences
and better protect our staff and the public, I will do so as part
of the Government's Plan for Change.”
It comes after recent figures revealed a direct link between
violence behind bars and the prison capacity crisis inherited by
the Government that put the public at risk.
The study found offenders are 20 percent more likely to be
involved in assaults in overcrowded jails.
The Tasers will be issued to a specialist national unit which
responds to complex and serious incidents in the adult male
estate which local staff are not trained for, such as barricades
and those involving multiple perpetrators. After the trial, the
Government will look at whether Tasers should be used more widely
across the prison estate.
The Prison Service has also ramped up the number of full lockdown
searches in high-security jails to stop more of the contraband
which fuels violence behind bars.
This builds on a £40 million package announced last month to
boost security across the estate, including £10 million
specifically for anti-drone measures such as new netting and
reinforced windows.
Meanwhile, under the Government's landmark sentencing reforms,
offenders who behave badly will be held in prison for longer –
meaning there will be stricter penalties for anyone caught using
drugs or acting violently.
Notes to editors:
- The trial will run until enough data has been collected
to determine if they should be more widely used.
- The officers trained to use tasers are from the Operational
Response and Resilience Unit (ORRU).
- The ORRU are a team of specialist prison officers deployed
nationally to handle complex incidents that local staff aren't
trained for, such as hostage situations, barricades and working
at height.
- Officers will be subject to robust accountability measures,
each deployment of a taser will be reviewed.
- New research found a direct link between overcrowding
and violence: Overcrowded jails fuel
prisoner violence - GOV.UK
