Britain to arm hundreds of prison officers with Tasers as violence in jails rises

Hundreds of prison officers in England and Wales are set to be armed with Tasers for the first time, as violence inside Britain’s jails continues to rise, ministers announced Thursday night. The rollout would begin with about 500 guards after a pilot program that involved 20 officers earlier this year.

Under the plan, 10,000 prison officers will also receive stab-proof vests, a dramatic increase from the current 750. The Tasers, which can deliver up to about 1,500 volts to incapacitate an attacker at a distance, will be issued to first-wave staff. The rollout follows a pilot involving 20 officers earlier this year, and the Ministry of Justice says the scheme could be broadened to hundreds more if successful. Officials noted that, at present, officers carry only an extended baton and Pava pepper spray. The move comes after a high-profile incident in which Hashem Abedi, the brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, allegedly threw hot oil at three prison officers at HMP Frankland while cooking in a kitchen in the separation unit.

Data from the Ministry of Justice show there were 10,568 attacks on prison officers in England and Wales in the 12 months to March, up 7 percent from the previous year. The rise in violence has prompted policymakers to consider broader safety measures as inmates, at times, have stabbed guards or attacked staff with hot liquids. The MOJ emphasized that the current steps are to enhance safety and do not represent a general arming of staff beyond the introduced devices.

Justice Secretary David Lammy said last night: "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." He added that the government would continue to evaluate security needs in custody facilities to protect both staff and inmates.

The announcement came as opposition figures pressed for further action. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick argued for arming prison officers in response to what he described as a national security emergency inside prisons, urging the government to expand the use of technology to block contraband. Jenrick also tied the push to broader concerns about how weapons and other dangerous items can enter facilities.

The plan follows heightened concerns about violence in prisons, including calls for anti-drone technology to prevent weapons — and potentially firearms — from being flown into sites. Jenrick said the government should move quickly to deploy such capabilities. In a related incident cited by officials, Hashem Abedi has been charged with attempted murder after an altercation in which he allegedly threw hot oil at officers at HMP Frankland in County Durham while in a kitchen in the separation unit. Abedi, 28, is serving a 55-year sentence for his role in the 2017 Manchester attack.

The Ministry of Justice has stressed that the measures are designed to improve safety without changing the fundamental approach to force in prisons. Officers would still rely on non-lethal tools for routine interventions, with Tasers reserved for scenarios deemed appropriate by trained staff and subject to policy controls. The government said the plan would be evaluated as it expands to additional regions and facilities, with the possibility of extending the rollout beyond the initial 500 officers if the pilot proves successful.