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The Latest Breaking News from Mark Fairhurst

UK Prison Laundries Converted Into Cells as Prison Overcrowding Crisis Leaves Jails at 98% Capacity

The UK government is converting prison laundries into accommodation to address overcrowding, with male prisons at 98% capacity.

International Business Times UK

‘National scandal’ as ministers U-turn on lifesaving fire safety plans for overcrowded prisons

SPECIAL REPORT: Eleven prisoners have died while ministers drag their heels over legally required fire safety measures in overcrowded British prisons, where there are an average of eight fires a day, Amy-Clare Martin reports

The Independent UK

More than 2,600 prison staff ‘facing deportation’ under new visa rules

Justice Secretary David Lammy already under pressure after prisoner release fiasco at HMP Wandsworth

Evening Standard

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England prison chiefs summoned to urgent meeting with ministers over wrongful releases

Justice minister promises digital overhaul of ‘archaic’ paper system partly blamed for average of 22 people being wrongly freed each month

The Guardian - UK

Five more prisoners freed in error after sex offender’s release from Essex jail

Union says staff shortages and confusion over early release schemes are driving a rise in mistakes

The Guardian - UK

Prison custody manager ‘scapegoated’ over bungled release of Hadush Kebatu, union claims

Mistakes happen all the time amid jails chaos, warns chief inspector of prisons

The Independent UK

Ministers warned not to scapegoat prison staff over mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu

Justice secretary blames human error but other say there are systemic problems and targeting an individual is ‘unjust’

The Guardian - UK

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Football matches have better security than jails, says prison officers’ chief

Mark Fairhurst of the Prison Officers’ Association said overcrowding and violence were his members’ key concerns.

Evening Standard

Governors have lost control of prison in Staffordshire, union says

Prison Officers’ Association claims officer was stabbed in head and two others punched in face at HMP Swinfen Hall

The Guardian - UK

Assaults on prison staff reach highest level in a decade

Some 10,605 assaults on staff in male and female jails were recorded in the period up to December 2024, at a rate of 122 per 1,000 prisoners.

Evening Standard

Prison guards will be armed with Tasers after Manchester bomber jail attack

Shabana Mahmood made the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday

Evening Standard

Prison staff to demand use of stun guns in jails after HMP Frankland attack

Prison officers are demanding the ‘tactical use of taser’ after officers at HMP Frankland were attacked

The Independent UK

Prison officers call for use of electric stun guns

The demand has been made ahead of a meeting between the Prison Officers’ Association and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Evening Standard

UK prison officers to demand electric stun guns for dangerous jails

Meeting called with justice secretary after attack on three guards at HMP Frankland

The Guardian - UK

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The Guardian - UK

Manchester Arena bomb plotter ‘moved to Belmarsh prison’ after attack on guards

Hashem Abedi is alleged to have attacked three prison officers with hot cooking oil in kitchen at HMP Frankland

The Independent UK

Manchester bomb plotter ‘moved to Belmarsh prison’ after guards attacked

Hashem Abedi has been transferred to the high security jail in south-east London, it is understood.

The Independent UK

Manchester Arena bomber’s brother given spork in prison days after alleged attack on three officers

Hashem Abedi moved to HMP Belmarsh, where he previously attacked a prison officer in 2020

The Guardian - UK

Dangerous inmates should not have access to prison kitchen, union chair says

Prison Officers’ Association official says staff are furious after attack by Hashem Abedi

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The Guardian - UK

Ban inmates from cooking after Hashem Abedi assault, says prison union

Chair of prison workers body says copycat incidents must be prevented after attack by convicted terrorist

The Independent UK

Government to review how ‘Manchester bomb plotter could attack prison guards’

Hashem Abedi threw hot cooking oil over three officers before stabbing them with ‘home-made weapons’, the Prison Officers’ Association said.

Evening Standard

Prison officers ‘stabbed by Manchester bomb plotter’ now stable, says union

The Prison Officers’ Association said Hashem Abedi threw hot oil over three officers on Saturday before stabbing them with ‘home-made weapons’.

The Guardian - UK

Alarm over early re-release of recalled prisoners as jail overcrowding crisis deepens

Whistleblower says over 1,000 inmates in England and Wales considered for the scheme which bypasses Parole Board

The Independent UK

Warning drones could be used to lift prisoners out of jails to escape

Experts likened a high-security jail to an airport because there were so many drones flying in drugs

Evening Standard

Drones could lift inmates out of jails to escape, prison officers say

A watchdog has said deliveries of drugs and weapons to prison by drone are a national security threat.

The Guardian - UK

Fears of unrest as PM considers open prisons for more offenders

Unions concerned about potential rise in violence, drug abuse and the threat of riots at low-security facilities in England and Wales

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