THOUSANDS of prison officers will get stab-proof vests and Tasers to protect them from violent lags.
The security boost comes after attacks by notorious prisoners including the Manchester Arena bomb-maker Hashem Abedi.
And Justice Secretary David Lammy has vowed to recruit more jail guards.
All officers in Category A prisons such as Belmarsh and Frankland — where Abedi’s attack took place — will be given custom-made protective gear.
Another 5,000 around the rest of the country will be able to access stab vests. Around half the 22,737 full-time officers will get extra protection.
The investment of around £15million will also see up to 500 prison officers trained to use Tasers.
At the moment only 20 members of specialist Tornado squads — previously the National Tactical Response Group — are trained to use them in riot or hostage situations.
Visiting HMP Belmarsh in South London on Friday, Mr Lammy insisted: “There is a cohort of violent, pernicious prisoners with malevolent intent and the system has to work hard to ensure that they are not able to put any officer in a vulnerable position.
“I’d like to see the number of prison officers increase. We’re only going to achieve that if officers feel secure.”
It comes after Abedi, 28, refused to leave his cell to face charges of attempting to murder three prison officers in April.
He is serving life with a minimum of 55 years for helping his brother Salman kill 22 people at an Ariana Grande gig in May 2017.
Meanwhile, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Jonathan Hall KC is set to publish a review into secure terrorist separation centres, in which Abedi was housed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy meets staff wearing new body armour Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
