UK to arm thousands of prison officers with stab-proof vests in £15m safety package
Justice Secretary announces 10,000 body armour vests and 500 Tasers as part of broader push to improve jail safety after high-profile attacks
LONDON — The UK government on Monday announced a major safety upgrade for prison staff, confirming that 10,000 more officers will receive stab-proof body armour as part of a £15 million funding package that also provides 500 Tasers for trained personnel. Justice Secretary David Lammy unveiled the plan during a visit to Belmarsh prison in southeast London, saying the move is intended to restore “tough law and order” and ensure prisons are fit for purpose.
The package will include protective vests for every prison guard working in high-security facilities, the department said. The funding is part of the £15 million boost that the government says will improve frontline safety in the wake of violence across the estate.
The announcement follows a violent incident in April in which three officers were taken to hospital after being attacked with hot oil and makeshift weapons at HMP Frankland. Authorities described the attack as part of a broader pattern of violence that has underscored concerns about staff safety and the need for enhanced protective equipment.
Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomb plotter, has been charged with attempting to murder prison officers at HMP Frankland and is due to appear in court on 25 September. In connection with the incident, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, has been appointed to investigate and make recommendations to improve safety for frontline officers.
Lammy said it was “horrific” what “good people” who signed up to being a prison officer were subjected to. He added, “I recognise that, one, I’d like to see the number of prison officers increase, and we’re only going to achieve that if prison officers feel secure, and there is a cohort of violent, pernicious prisoners with malevolent intent. I think I’m hoping, under my watch, we’ll see stability in the system, so we won’t need emergency measures.”
Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the move, saying frontline officers have been left exposed for far too long and that “they cannot afford more delays — this equipment needs to reach them immediately.”
Lammy emphasised that the broader goal is to increase staffing levels over time, but that growth depends on ensuring officers feel secure and supported amid ongoing challenges in the system. The government described the investment as a clear signal of support for prison staff and a commitment to making prisons safer and more fit for purpose as part of a wider public-safety agenda.