Tasers in prisons to be trialled after Hashem Abedi assault

The use of Tasers in prisons will probably be trialled after guards had been injured via the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, the justice secretary has mentioned.

The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) had known as for guards to have get entry to to electrical stun weapons in gentle of Hashem Abedi’s use of makeshift guns to assault personnel at HMP Frankland, a high-security jail in County Durham.

Shabana Mahmood instructed the Commons on Tuesday: “Wherever we can strengthen our defences, to better protect our staff and the public, we will do so.”

However, POA chairman Mark Fairhurst instructed the BBC he didn’t consider a tribulation was once essential and known as for his or her use to be rolled out “before one of my members is murdered”.

Three guards won health center remedy after the assault on 12 April. One stays in health center in a solid situation, whilst two others have since been discharged.

At the time of the assault Abedi was once held in a separation wing used to accommodate probably the most unhealthy and extremist prisoners.

However, he had get entry to to a kitchen, the place he was once in a position to warmth cooking oil and style guns from apparatus which he used to attack the guards.

Following requires pressing motion to stay jail personnel more secure, Mahmood showed HM Prison and Probation carrier would start a tribulation on using electrical stun weapons.

It is because of be introduced in the summertime and will probably be restricted to amenities housing grownup men.

She mentioned a separate unbiased evaluate into the assault would “ascertain how this incident was able to happen, what more must be done to protect prison staff and, more widely, how separation centres are run”.

Mahmood has in the past ordered a “snap review” into using protecting frame armour for jail personnel.

She paid tribute to the “bravery of the officers involved that day”, which she mentioned “undoubtedly saved lives”.

Mr Fairhurst, who’s because of meet the justice secretary on Wednesday, mentioned the assault have been a transparent indication that officials confronted pressing risk, and disputed the will for a tribulation duration sooner than permitting jail personnel get entry to to electrical stun weapons.

“The police force has used this equipment for years, we know it’s effective,” he mentioned.

Mr Fairhurst mentioned the apparatus will have to be rolled out in all high-security amenities and utilized by specifically educated personnel. He persisted: “If not, our lives are on the line.”

Currently, jail officials are simplest in a position to hold an extendable baton and artificial pepper spray.

Abedi, who helped his older brother Salman plan the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, was once jailed for lifestyles with a minimal 55 years in jail after being convicted of murdering 22 other folks.

He have been moved to Frankland after sporting out an previous assault on jail officials in London’s Belmarsh jail in 2020, for which 3 years and 10 months was once added to his sentence.

Following the most recent assault on personnel, he was once moved once more to Belmarsh.