Former prison officer says new body armour rules are 'step in right direction' but warns they don't go far enough

Now, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the mandatory use of body armour following a series of recent attacks on prison staff in close supervision centres (CSC), separation centres and segregation units

The decision comes days after a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire was seriously injured when stabbed by an inmate, requiring emergency surgery.

The announcement follows other recent incidents, including Southport triple killer Axel Rudakubana allegedly throwing boiling water at an officer at HMP Belmarsh in May.

Manchester bomb plotter Hashem Abedi was also moved from HMP Frankland after allegedly attacking three officers with boiling cooking oil.

Reacting to the news, Lewis told GB News: "I think that's certainly a positive step forward but some of these prisoners are in mainstream locations within the prison.

"When I was assaulted the person who assaulted me was on a normal population wing.

"I think it's a start to roll it out in the CSC, however I just feel it should be mandatory across the whole high security estate."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Teenage Muslim convert who planned Isle of Wight Festival terror attack has 'stabbed TEN prison officers' since being locked up
• Paedophile prisoners converting to Islam for ‘protection by Muslim gangs’, new report suggests
• Axel Rudakubana 'allowed to buy crisps and chocolates' in jail after receiving money from relatives

Lewis was stabbed by triple killer Kevan Thakrar at HMP Frankland in 2010, the same prison where Hashem Abedi later attacked three officers. She warned that "someone will end up being murdered" if staff are not better protected.

She told GB News that: "When I was assaulted, the person who assaulted me was on a normal population wing, so it really needs to be the whole of the high security estate."

Mahmood told the Commons: "Today, I can announce I will mandate its use in close supervision centres, separation centres and segregation units in the high security estate.

"This is my initial response to the review, but I will set out further action on body armour in due course.

"When Jonathan Hall’s independent review into the Frankland attack reports, I will take any further steps necessary to protect our brave staff."

".

Jenrick told MPs he still fears for prison officers’ safety, as he hit out at Rudakubana having access to "treats" such as Pringles and Maltesers.

He said: "Brave prison officers are under attack if the Government doesn’t act now. I’m warning once again that an officer will be killed on the Justice Secretary’s watch."

Mahmood said: "Let me just give the shadow minister a much-needed education here because he appears not to know that under the Tory Government, violence on staff in our prisons soared and experienced officers left in droves because of it."