THIRTY jail staff attacked by inmates every day as fears grow over UK prisons crisis
In May alone there were 942 assaults - 180 of a serious nature - sparking fresh worries of overcrowding, spiralling violence and understaffed facilities
THE escalating scale of the UK’s prison crisis is laid bare as it is revealed some 30 jail staff are being assaulted every day.
Prison chiefs are worried about the spike in attacks by prisoners on helpless officers and calls are growing for a crackdown.
It comes as fears grow about overcrowding of prisoners, spiralling levels of violence and understaffed facilities.
The Sun on Sunday can reveal there were 942 assaults on prison officers by inmates in May alone – including 180 serious attacks.
And the number of lag-on-lag attacks is rocketing, with 2,050 in the same month, including 271 of a serious nature.
Mark Fairhurst, acting chairman of the Prison Officers Association, wants staff to be equipped with the tools to quell the violence including tasers, stab proof vests, pepper spray and rigid cuffs.
He said: “We cannot continue accepting that violence is part of prison life.
“These statistics are extremely concerning and the violence in our jails shows no sign of abating.
“Our members deserve to be safe at work and prisoners have a right to live in a safe and purposeful and constructive environment.
“The safety of our membership is non-negotiable.”
Since 2010 more than 7,000 prison staff have been cut from UK facilities, leaving those remaining facing spiralling prisoner numbers.
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And the prominence of legal highs and mind-bending Spice drugs behind bars have heaped the misery on under-pressure staff.
Addressing calls for prison reform earlier this year, Justice Secretary Liz Truss said she wants to “transform our prisons from places of violence and despair to places of self-improvement”.