PR 280: PRISON OFFICERS ASSOCIATION COMMENTS ON ASSAULTS ON PRISON OFFICERS AT WOODHILL AND GARTREE PRISONS

Geoff Willetts of the Prison Officers Association said: 

“I am advised that one of our members at HMP Woodhill was attacked by a prisoner who was detained under the Terrorism act of 2008. The Officer was assaulted and injured while carrying out his duties. 

In a separate incident at the same jail 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 attention where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.”

“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.”

Steve Gillan POA General Secretary said:

“Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales. It appears that HMPPS have learned nothing. They continue to ignore the calls from our members on the front line for urgent action to protect Prison Officers from violence. 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.”

“My thoughts are with the Prison Officers who have been injured, the POA will offer them our full support.”

For further information, contact:

POA Press Office                                                  020 8803 0255 Option 7