Labour responds to report finding ‘de-facto decriminalisation’ of assaults on prison workers

David Lammy MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to Community’s Keep Us Safe report which shows a 247% rise in assaults on prison workers and accuses the government of “de-facto decriminalising” assaults, said:

“The Conservatives’ disastrous mishandling of the prison service has led to a huge spike in violence against workers who sacrifice so much to keep the rest of us safe.

“The government must act urgently to improve conditions in our overcrowded, understaffed and dangerous prisons, as well as to ensure those who assault prison workers are punished.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The Keep Us Safe report, released on 10th August at 10pm, was prepared by the trade union Community, which represents more workers in privatised justice services than any other union across the UK.
• It showed that one in four have been physically assaulted at work at least once in the past year, with one in ten having been physically assaulted twice or more in the same period. Assaults on prison staff in England and Wales alone increased by over a staggering 247% since 2010, equalling 21 prison officers being physically assaulted every single day.
• 87% of prison workers reported incidents of assaults, but 64% said that their report about abuse at work did not lead to any consequences.
• The report features numerous harrowing testimonies from prison workers. A female Courts and Prisoner Escorting Officer recalled an incident when “whilst trying to restrain prisoners legs he managed to kick out and I was kicked in the sternum”.