Governors warn of increasing violence of ‘nothing-to-lose’ inmates attacking notorious prisoners

Ian Huntley, the former school caretaker who murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, died after an attack at HMP Frankland. Photograph: Shutterstock

Notorious prisoners such as the Soham killer Ian Huntley are facing increasingly violent attacks from inmates with “nothing to lose”, the head of the Prison Governors’ Association has said.

Tom Wheatley, the president of the PGA, which represents governors in England and Wales, said those serving lengthy sentences or whole-life tariffs in high-security institutions had “no fear” of being given additional time in prison, and could earn status by singling out famous child murderers and paedophiles.