STORY
In a response to recent assaults on frontline staff, the Ministry of Justice has announced that prison officers working in the most dangerous parts of the high-security estate will be required to wear protective body armour. The decision, unveiled by Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood today, aims to improve safety for officers stationed in close supervision centres, separation centres and segregation units.
Mahmood told MPs in the House of Commons that the policy change follows a review ordered after a violent incident at HMP Frankland, where Hashem Abedi, the convicted Manchester Arena bomb plotter, attacked three officers with boiling cooking oil in April. “I know this House shares my anger at recent attacks against prison officers” she said. “Today, I can announce I will mandate its use in Close Supervision Centres, Separation Centres, and Segregation Units in the High Security Estate. When Jonathan Hall’s independent review into the Frankland attack reports, I will take any further steps necessary to protect our brave staff.”
The new requirement will take effect immediately for officers working directly with those deemed most likely to pose a threat, ensuring they are equipped with ballistic-grade vests and stab-resistant panels. The move was welcomed by prison unions, who have long campaigned for better protective equipment following a series of violent incidents over the past year.
Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation tasked with examining the Frankland attack, is due to deliver his full findings later this summer. Mahmood indicated that further adjustments to protective equipment policy could follow once his report is published. In the meantime, she stressed that mandating body armour is a crucial first step in bolstering officer safety. Prison officers routinely face volatile situations when managing high-risk inmates, and the Frankland assault underscored vulnerabilities in the current approach. Close supervision centres hold the most dangerous prisoners under constant guard, while separation centres and segregation units house inmates removed from the general population for disciplinary or security reasons. The decision to extend mandatory body armour to all three settings reflects a recognition that officers may confront life-threatening attacks without warning.
Richard “Rick” Thompson, a senior union representative for HM Prison and Probation Service staff, praised the announcement as “long overdue.” He remarked, “Our members have repeatedly warned that without adequate protective gear, they face unacceptable risk. Mandating body armour in the highest-risk units will save lives and send a clear message that the government values the safety of those who keep our prisons secure.” Not all details are yet finalised: the Ministry has indicated that guidance on fitting, maintenance and replacement schedules will be published in the coming weeks, and training programmes on the correct use of the new vests will roll out across affected sites. The overall cost is being met from existing departmental budgets, though officials declined to disclose precise figures.
Parliamentary observers noted that the announcement arrives amid wider debates over prison staffing levels, rising violence behind bars and the broader operation of the high-security estate. Mahmood hinted that, once Hall’s review is complete, ministers may consider further recommendations on matters ranging from staff-inmate ratios to the layout of segregation units.