Rising Violence in UK Prisons Sparks Urgent Security Review after terrorist attacked guards

[Social Media]

 

A surge in violence within the high-security prison where the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber attacked guards has triggered a sweeping response from the UK government, with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announcing new protective measures for prison staff, including the trial use of Tasers.

 

 

HMP Frankland in Durham, the facility where terrorist Hashem Abedi launched a brutal attack on three prison officers using homemade knives and hot oil, has now recorded its highest rate of violence in nearly a decade. According to new Ministry of Justice figures, the monthly rate of assaults at the prison has climbed to 183.8 per 1,000 inmates—up from 169.5 last year and the highest since at least 2016.

 

 

This spike comes amid a broader crisis within the prison system in England and Wales. A total of 10,605 assaults on staff were recorded across the prison estate in the past year, marking a 15 per cent rise from 2023 and setting a new record high. The violence has prompted union officials representing prison officers to meet with the Justice Secretary to demand enhanced security for frontline staff.

 

In response, Ms Mahmood announced several immediate measures, including a trial deployment of Tasers to officers working in high-security prisons. She also ordered a snap review into the use of stab vests and announced that access to kitchens would be suspended for offenders housed in separation units, where the most dangerous inmates are typically held.

 

Hashem Abedi, who is serving a life sentence for his role in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, has since been transferred to HMP Belmarsh in south London following his attack on Frankland staff.

 

The newly released MoJ data paints a disturbing picture of life inside Frankland. In the most recent reporting period, there were 59 assaults on staff, including four classified as serious. That followed 60 similar incidents the year before—double the levels recorded in 2019. Additionally, 107 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults were documented, the highest number on record, up from 83 last year. Eleven of those were deemed serious.

 

Last year, Frankland’s Independent Monitoring Board warned that both staff and inmate safety was being compromised by an outdated CCTV system riddled with blind spots. The board also highlighted escalating tensions on the prison wings, citing increased discoveries of makeshift weapons and contraband drugs as key contributors. Many of the weapons, it noted, had been crafted from common items such as wood, pieces of furniture, and pens.

 

While Frankland has drawn particular scrutiny, it is far from alone in experiencing rising violence. HMP Brinsford in Featherstone near Wolverhampton had the highest recorded monthly assault rate, with 928 incidents per 1,000 prisoners—nearly one per inmate. This was closely followed by HMP Styal in Wilmslow (864) and HMP Bedford (841). HMP Wandsworth topped the list for individual assaults on staff, with 386 incidents so far this year, including 27 serious attacks.

 

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “These statistics once again lay bare the extent of the crisis facing our prisons – with levels of violence, assaults on staff and self-harm far too high.” They added, “We will do whatever we can to protect our hard-working staff. The Lord Chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents.”

 

However, they also emphasized the need for systemic change, saying, “It is clear fundamental change is needed, which is why we’re also reforming our jails so they create better citizens, not better criminals.”

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-04-26

 

 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

Sounds like the prison staff aren't trained properly and the facilities like CCTV need upgrading?

They need a supermax like the US have where these terrorists should spend the rest of their lives in solitary!!

[James105]

38 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Sounds like the prison staff aren't trained properly and the facilities like CCTV need upgrading?

They need a supermax like the US have where these terrorists should spend the rest of their lives in solitary!!

 

Thats what should happen, however the wet pathetic liberals in the ministry for 2 tiered justice in the last paragraph state:

 

“It is clear fundamental change is needed, which is why we’re also reforming our jails so they create better citizens, not better criminals.”

 

In other words, more comforts and more using the failed and moronic tactic of appeasement in the hope that the people that want to kill them target the non-appeasers first.  

[MadAtMatrix]

Transfer them all to 10 Downing. Let Keir share his home with them. 

[impulse]

52 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Sounds like the prison staff aren't trained properly and the facilities like CCTV need upgrading?

They need a supermax like the US have where these terrorists should spend the rest of their lives in solitary!!

 

Better yet, strike a deal with Bukele.

 

Or maybe use some of the untapped resources they paid for in Rwanda.

 

[newbee2022]

UK was very famous some years ago for solving problems by using gallows.

Be proud of your ancestors. Good things still remain good things🤣

[Gsxrnz]

“It is clear fundamental change is needed, which is why we’re also reforming our jails so they create better citizens, not better criminals.”

 

And therein lies the problem.  For eons, imprisonment was about punishment and discouragement.  Liberalism made it all about rehabilitation. 

 

There aren't too many good things that come out of South America, but El Salvadore has a solution to recidivist criminals and terrorists.

 

Cry me a bucket. 

[klauskunkel]

If that's the terrorist depicted above, then how wimpy are the prison officers?

[impulse]

15 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

If that's the terrorist depicted above, then how wimpy are the prison officers?

 

Bruce Lee was pretty skinny, too.  Though I don't recall ever seeing him with a machine gun.

 

 

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

Better yet, strike a deal with Bukele.

 

Or maybe use some of the untapped resources they paid for in Rwanda.

 

Yes indeed, this guy would fit right in with MS-13 in CECOT in El Salvador!!😉

[impulse]

1 minute ago, mikeymike100 said:

Yes indeed, this guy would fit right in with MS-13 in CECOT in El Salvador!!

 

The sad reality is that for some segment, prison isn't about rehabilitation or even punishment.  It's just about warehousing them away from polite society until they die.  That didn't use to be a thing, until we got all squeamish about the death penalty. 

 

Today, we're spending $billions every month on oxygen thieves that would have been taken out back and planted in years past.

[Hatari fan]

Think if the UK had an agreement with Thailand to send it's trouble making prisoners to the Bangkok Hilton that would make them think twice before attacking prison officers. 

 

[Watawattana]

Why have so many people already forgotten that this nutcase got sent down under a conservative government; one that let the UK's judicial and prison system crumble?  By the way, in no way am I about to defend Starmer, him and his party are equally useless.

[baansgr]

Billions more spent on non Brits, ship em back to pakistan let them deal with the murdering scum

[Nick Carter icp]

16 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Why have so many people already forgotten that this nutcase got sent down under a conservative government; one that let the UK's judicial and prison system crumble?  By the way, in no way am I about to defend Starmer, him and his party are equally useless.

 

   The current Government needs to sort the problem out 

[Magictoad]

This article does not mention the dozens of people incarcerated for 'hurty words' on line. Including a 35 year old teacher who has been jailed along with many others and refused any right to partial remittance of sentences. This is a deliberate act of vengeance and cruelty by Starmer, The new Prime Minister.  His nickname is Two Tier Starmer such is the consistency of his inconsistent application of the law.  Two tier justice is now becoming a common thing in Britain. Last week the Supreme Court finally ruled that a woman is an adult human female after 10 years of men campaigning for the right to share changing rooms, compete with women at sports, etc etc IF they had a certificate saying they were a woman. GRC. Gender Recognition Certificate.

[Magictoad]

24 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Billions more spent on non Brits, ship em back to pakistan let them deal with the murdering scum

Pakistan?  I thought he was from Australia 

[Magictoad]

5 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

If that's the terrorist depicted above, then how wimpy are the prison officers?

Boiling oil in the eyes? Does not matter how hard you are. We can't build muscles on the eyeballs.

[Magictoad]

7 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Sounds like the prison staff aren't trained properly and the facilities like CCTV need upgrading?

They need a supermax like the US have where these terrorists should spend the rest of their lives in solitary!!

Yes to the Supermax but the ECHR does not allow it.