Rupert Lowe MP has posted a new letter to X in support of Prison Officers and the threat they face from extremist prisoners.
Prison staff are being put in harm's way because our system fails to properly protect them from violent and extremist prisoners - serious concerns have been raised with me by staff about their safety.
I have written to the Secretary of State asking for urgent action.
Rupert Lowe MP
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SW1A 0AA
Dear Secretary of State,
I am writing to you following serious concerns raised with me by several current and former prison officers regarding their safety while working in high-security facilities.
The recent reported attack on a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh by Axel Rudakubana is just the latest in a deeply troubling pattern. This follows the alleged assault by Hashem Abedi at HMP Frankland, which reportedly left staff with life-threatening injuries. The rising number of attacks, particularly from high-risk inmates with violent and extremist records, is causing widespread fear among frontline officers.
I am told that many of these individuals retain access to boiling water, kitchen tools, or other potential weapons with minimal supervision, even after being convicted of the most serious and ideologically motivated crimes. Officers feel they are being placed in impossible positions.
I would therefore be grateful if you could answer the following:
1. What specific safeguards are in place to protect prison staff from inmates convicted of terrorism or multiple murders? Will these be reviewed?
2. Are there sufficient clear rules governing access to potentially dangerous items such as boiling water or cooking equipment in high-security prisons?
3. Has the Ministry of Justice undertaken a recent review of staff safety protocols and if so, will the findings be published?
4. What support is being offered to officers who are assaulted in the line of duty- including mental health and legal support?
5. What is being put in place to prevent further attacks?
Our prison officers put themselves in harm's way to uphold the rule of law. I urge you to act swiftly and publicly to reassure staff that their safety is a priority.
Yours sincerely,
Rupert Lowe MP
https://twitter.com/RupertLowe10/status/1921460895021953391
