Review launched into whether staff should wear body armour following prison attack

16/04/2025

An investigation will be carried out into whether frontline prison staff should be given protective body armour following the alleged attack on guards by the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber.

The Prison Service will launch its probe following the incident involving bomb plotter Hashem Abedi at HMP Frankland on Saturday, in which the guards are said to have been attacked with hot oil and homemade weapons.

Three prison officers were injured during the incident at the jail in County Durham, and one remains in hospital, according to Counter Terrorism Policing North East.

The Ministry of Justice has pledged to carry out a review following the incident.

Union leaders have been calling for officers to be given stab vests and protective equipment, arguing that the incident was proof of “how dangerous our job is”.

The MoJ has also suspended access to kitchens in separation units in prisons, where the attack is believed to have taken place in Frankland.

Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, said: “I share the country’s shock and anger at the attack on our prison officers at HMP Frankland last weekend.

“It is clear there are further questions to answer, and more that must be done.

“For that reason, we are carrying out an independent review into these events.

“This will look into how this was able to happen, and what we must do to better protect our prison officers in the future.

“This review will look specifically at this attack, but also more widely at how separation centres are run.”

Ms Mahmood added: “The Prison Service will also conduct a snap review into whether protective body armour should be made available to frontline staff.”

The probe is expected to report back its findings in the next few months. A chairperson to lead the independent review is yet to be appointed.

The justice secretary also said there will be an audit on carrying out 230 recommendations from 19 reviews looking at extremism in prisons.

“I know full well the dangers of the warped ideology of Islamist extremists,” she said. “I will not tolerate it within our prisons.

“Wherever I find there is opportunity to strengthen our defences and better protect our staff and the public, I will do so.”

Written by: Pippa Taylor

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