- Up to 10,000 more officers to get protective body armour, and
hundreds given tasers
- Around £15 million investment unveiled to better protect
staff and help end the crisis in our prisons
- Deputy Prime Minister pledges to restore tough law and order
and make our streets safe, as part of the Plan for Change
Thousands of prison staff will be safer thanks to a new £15
million investment in protective body armour and Tasers as part
of the Government's Plan for Change.
In a major intervention, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced a massive ramp up
of protective body armour – also known as stab proof vests – for
frontline prison officers.
This will dramatically increase the number of vests available
from 750 to up to 10,000 staff to better protect them from
violence – with 5,000 specifically to equip every officer working
in long term and high-security prisons.
The investment of around £15 million will also see up to 500
prison officers trained up to use Tasers, significantly scaling
up the initial trial announced this summer for 20 specialist
staff. Once triggered, the devices generate 1,500 volts of
electricity to incapacitate an attacker instantly – at distance –
protecting staff and other prisoners from harm.
Today's announcement builds on the decisive action taken by the
Government to grip the prisons crisis it inherited, building
thousands more prison places and better protecting staff. This
follows the appalling attack on three officers at HMP Frankland
in April.
Deputy Prime Minister, , said:
“I am determined to restore tough law and order, ensure prisons
are fit for purpose, and make our streets safer, as part of the
Plan for Change.
“Our dedicated prison officers put themselves in harm's way every
day to protect us. This new investment sends a clear message: we
back our staff and we will give them the tools they need to do
their jobs safely.”
The funding significantly expands upon the existing plan to
introduce protective body armour to high-secure settings
including Close Supervision Centres, Separation Centres and
Segregation Units. Prisons have already begun receiving kit this
week, ready to be worn.
The Taser pilot, announced this summer, applied to 20
specifically trained officers from national units deployed to
high-risk scenarios. Today's expansion will enable small teams of
prison-based staff to provide immediate intervention during
high-threat, serious incidents.
The Deputy Prime Minister made today's announcement on a visit
HMP Belmarsh, a high-security prison in south London, to hear
first-hand from staff about their vital work keeping the country
safe.
