Woodhill and Gartree prison attacks sees plea for urgent action

A prisons union has called for action “before there is a fatality” after an officer was slashed in the neck and another had a TV thrown at them.

The attacks happened at HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire and Gartree Prison in Leicestershire.

The general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), Steve Gillan, said “escalating levels of violence” were “out of control” in prisons in England and Wales.

The Prison Service said it would “do whatever is necessary to keep our staff safe”.

One officer at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, was slashed in the neck and ear with an improvised weapon on Tuesday and needed stitches in hospital, the POA said.

In a second incident another inmate assaulted a member of staff, the union added.

Four officers in total needed hospital treatment but were discharged later on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, at Gartree Prison near Market Harborough, a female officer was left with a broken bone after an inmate faked a seizure and threw a TV at her colleague, the POA said.

The union repeated its calls for boosted protection for prison officers.

Mr 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 it was 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 [Shabana Mahmood] 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.”

On Wednesday, Mahmood said more than 1,000 inmates would be released early to free up prison spaces, as the government continued to grapple with an overcrowding crisis.

Additional reporting by PA Media.