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BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Call-outs for specialist prison squad increase 44% in two years
There has been a sharp increase in the number of times a specialist team that deals with serious incidents in prisons has been deployed in England and Wales, the BBC can National Tactical Response Group (NTRG), was called out 823 times in 2024 compared with 570 deployments in 2022, according to a Freedom of Information Prison Officers' Association (POA) said there had been problems with concerted indiscipline - an incident in which two or more prisoners act together in defiance of lawful instruction - and government said it was investing more in specialist teams to deal with serious incidents. 'More violent incidents' The NTRG, which is also sent into young offender institutions and immigration removal centres, is a highly trained unit used to dealing with serious incidents such as prisoner barricades, hostage taking and violent April the team was deployed to Lowdham Grange prison after reports that one inmate threatened to take another Willetts, from the POA national executive committee, said: "There seems to be an increasing need for this group [NTRG] to be deployed due to frequent callouts to address rising prison violence and an ever increasing prison population."Concerns about prison safety were highlighted by the latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures, which show the number of staff assaulted in adult prisons across England and Wales hit a new peak last year. The government said a trial into the use of tasers would be launched this summer for specialised officers dealing with serious incidents in prisons.A recent landmark review by Former Lord Chancellor David Gauke recommended some prisoners could be released after serving just a third of their sentence in a bid to ease prison overcrowding. One former prison officer in Kent, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC South East about the volatility in some jails."I've been assaulted myself and I've witnessed colleagues having their life changed because of an assault that wasn't even directed at them," he not his real name, said the service had been impacted by the loss of a lot of experienced staff over the last decade."I think the biggest tool the prison service got rid of was experience. And unfortunately, you just can't buy experience," he said."You can't get people that come through the gates fresh out of college and expect them to have the same experience as someone that's been in the job for 20 years and knows how to deal with someone." Steve Gillan, the POA's general secretary, said: "Our members need better training and a return to basics of putting security and discipline first and foremost."We need proper protective equipment and better staffing levels to deal with overcrowded prisons."There is no doubt that there's been a major increase in incidents at height. "Prison officers cannot deal with these without the correct equipment and training, that's why NTRG staff are brought in to deal with such situations." The MoJ said a large proportion of recent NTRG callouts are for incidents at height, which are recorded for any incident taking place above ground level, but are not necessarily violent or prison governor John Podmore said protests at height and incidents at height tend to be caused by prisoners who are angry or frustrated."At the moment it's highly likely and logical that such incidents would be on the increase because there are a lot of prisoners who aren't getting out of their cell or getting access to education, employment and training," he said."In these scenarios frustrations will be on the increase, prison staff are very often less able, because they're new in the job, to deal with such incidents, and that's why they can manifest themselves in protests at height."One of the reasons can be prisoners who're in debt because they've been taking drugs and they want to get out of the prison, so if they go on a rooftop protest, there's a very high likelihood they'd be moved out of the prison and for the time being moved away from their debt." President of the Prison Governors' Association Tom Wheatley said the NTRG deployments showed the pressure on the prison system. "They're very full, not all prisoners are in the places they are supposed to be, they've become frustrated and they protest," he said."NTRG come out to incidents at height, prisoners climbing over the railings on the wings, so they're at threat of falling or jumping."As frustration rises so does the amount of time those specially trained staff are deployed."They [NTRG) have particular training and skills, they can safely rescue prisoners at height and if there's a large scale disturbance they come in as part of the team that comes in to deal with that."The government recently said more than 1,000 inmates would be released early to free up spaces, as ministers grapple with an overcrowding Secretary Shabana Mahmood said a £4.7bn investment would fund more prisons. A MoJ spokesperson said: "This government inherited prisons in crisis and the Lord Chancellor has taken immediate action to ensure we can lock up dangerous offenders, protect the public and make prisons safer for our hard-working staff."We have a zero-tolerance approach to violence which is why we are investing more into our specialist teams responding to serious incidents and providing staff with the tools they need to keep themselves safe."
North Wales Chronicle
15-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Call for action to protect prison officers ‘before there is a fatality'
One officer at HMP Woodhill near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday, and needed hospital treatment, the Prison Officers' Association said. In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the POA said. Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged on Tuesday. At Gartree prison in Leicestershire, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague. Geoff Willetts, from the POA, said that at HMP Woodhill: 'A prisoner was told to return to his cell, this resulted in a specialist officer being slashed with an improvised weapon, sustaining injuries to the neck and ear. 'The officer attended hospital where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.' — POA (@POAUnion) May 14, 2025 He added: 'Meanwhile at Gartree Prison, Market Harborough, staff attended a medical emergency where a prisoner faked an epileptic fit. 'A prison officer who attended to assist was assaulted then had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm.' The POA repeated calls for boosted protection for prison officers. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said: 'Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. 'It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality.' Thames Valley Police said they were investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment. A prison service spokesperson said: 'Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day. 'We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe. 'The Lord Chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly.'
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Leader Live
Call for action to protect prison officers ‘before there is a fatality'
One officer at HMP Woodhill near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday, and needed hospital treatment, the Prison Officers' Association said. In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the POA said. Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged on Tuesday. At Gartree prison in Leicestershire, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague. Geoff Willetts, from the POA, said that at HMP Woodhill: 'A prisoner was told to return to his cell, this resulted in a specialist officer being slashed with an improvised weapon, sustaining injuries to the neck and ear. 'The officer attended hospital where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.' — POA (@POAUnion) May 14, 2025 He added: 'Meanwhile at Gartree Prison, Market Harborough, staff attended a medical emergency where a prisoner faked an epileptic fit. 'A prison officer who attended to assist was assaulted then had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm.' The POA repeated calls for boosted protection for prison officers. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said: 'Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. 'It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality.' Thames Valley Police said they were investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment. A prison service spokesperson said: 'Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day. 'We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe. 'The Lord Chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly.'
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
Call for action to protect prison officers ‘before there is a fatality'
A prison officers' union has called for urgent action to protect guards from violence after attacks at two jails. One officer at HMP Woodhill near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday, and needed hospital treatment, the Prison Officers' Association said. In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the POA said. Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged on Tuesday. At Gartree prison in Leicestershire, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague. Geoff Willetts, from the POA, said that at HMP Woodhill: 'A prisoner was told to return to his cell, this resulted in a specialist officer being slashed with an improvised weapon, sustaining injuries to the neck and ear. 'The officer attended hospital where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.' He added: 'Meanwhile at Gartree Prison, Market Harborough, staff attended a medical emergency where a prisoner faked an epileptic fit. 'A prison officer who attended to assist was assaulted then had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm.' The POA repeated calls for boosted protection for prison officers. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said: 'Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. 'It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality.' Thames Valley Police said they were investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment. A prison service spokesperson said: 'Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day. 'We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe. 'The Lord Chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly.'
Rhyl Journal
14-05-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Call for action to protect prison officers ‘before there is a fatality'
One officer at HMP Woodhill near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday, and needed hospital treatment, the Prison Officers' Association said. In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the POA said. Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged on Tuesday. At Gartree prison in Leicestershire, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague. Geoff Willetts, from the POA, said that at HMP Woodhill: 'A prisoner was told to return to his cell, this resulted in a specialist officer being slashed with an improvised weapon, sustaining injuries to the neck and ear. 'The officer attended hospital where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.' — POA (@POAUnion) May 14, 2025 He added: 'Meanwhile at Gartree Prison, Market Harborough, staff attended a medical emergency where a prisoner faked an epileptic fit. 'A prison officer who attended to assist was assaulted then had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm.' The POA repeated calls for boosted protection for prison officers. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said: 'Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. 'It is clear prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect prison officers before there is a fatality.' Thames Valley Police said they were investigating an attack on a member of staff at HMP Woodhill. Leicestershire Police has been approached for comment. A prison service spokesperson said: 'Officers at HMP Woodhill attended hospital yesterday following two separate incidents. All were discharged on the same day. 'We will do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe. 'The Lord Chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents and will update shortly.'
