🛡️ Protection of Prison Staff

• An urgent question was raised in Parliament about the safety of prison staff following a serious assault on an officer at HMP Belmarsh.

• The Justice Minister expressed shock and sadness over the incident, emphasizing that violence against prison officers is unacceptable and that perpetrators will face consequences.

• The incident at HMP Belmarsh is under police investigation, and the Prison Service has also commissioned its own investigation to prevent future occurrences.

• Recent assaults by dangerous inmates, including terrorists, have highlighted concerns about prison safety. There is a call for immediate action, including providing stab vests to officers and reviewing the use of kettles by prisoners.

• The government is committed to ensuring the safety of prison officers and is reviewing the use of self-cook areas, Tasers, and protective body armour. These reviews are expected to report back in June.

• There is a recognition that overcrowding contributes to violence in prisons, and the government is working on building new prison places to alleviate this.

• Suggestions were made to automatically forfeit early release and privileges for prisoners who assault officers, and to review the use of additional protective equipment like Tasers and stab vests.

• The government is engaging with the Prison Officers Association and other unions to address safety concerns and improve conditions for prison staff.

• The Minister reiterated that the safety and security of prison officers is the top priority, and the government will continue to take steps to protect them.

The session exhibits a moderate level of disagreement, primarily focused on the urgency and adequacy of the government’s response to violence against prison staff. The disagreement is not overtly confrontational but rather manifests in expressions of concern and calls for more immediate action.

Examples of disagreement include:

1. Urgency of Reviews and Action: Robert Jenrick presses for immediate action rather than waiting for reviews to conclude. He specifically questions why stab vests are not provided to every prison officer exposed to dangerous inmates ‘today’ rather than in June, showing impatience with the government’s timeline. Sir Nicholas Dakin responds by justifying the need for thorough reviews to ensure effectiveness, indicating a disagreement on the pace of response.

2. Equipment and Safety Measures: There is a clear call from multiple members for enhanced protective equipment, such as stab vests and Tasers, with some members like Sir Julian Smith and Sir Ashley Fox questioning the delay in deploying these measures. The Minister’s responses focus on ongoing reviews and future trials, suggesting a disagreement on the immediate implementation versus careful evaluation of such equipment.

3. Prisoner Privileges and Incarceration Conditions: There are differing opinions on the management of high-risk inmates. For instance, Jim Shannon and Mr Jonathan Brash advocate for stricter measures such as solitary confinement and removal of privileges, while Sir Nicholas Dakin defends the current system that relies on the expertise of prison staff, implying a disagreement on how to handle violent inmates.

4. Historical Critique: Various members, including Andy Slaughter and Catherine Atkinson, criticize the previous government’s handling of the prison system, suggesting it contributed to current issues. While this is a point of contention, the responses from Sir Nicholas Dakin tend to acknowledge past problems and focus on ongoing efforts to address them, showing a moderate level of disagreement.

The session, while containing disagreements primarily on policy and urgency, does not escalate into high levels of conflict or personal attacks. The discussions remain within the realm of policy critique and requests for action, thus justifying a rating of 2 on the disagreement scale.