Prison wardens FURIOUS at bizarre plan to arm all jail guards with GUNS

Prison wardens have reacted angrily to calls for . Shadow Justice Secretary has argued there is a growing risk a prison officer could be kidnapped or murdered in the line of duty if his proposals aren't adopted.

The Conservatives called for secure armouries to be introduced at maximum security jails to be used as a last resort. It comes after high-profile attacks by prison inmates. A staff member at HMP Long Lartin, near Evesham, Worcestershire, was seriously on Saturday (May 31). They had to undergo emergency surgery after being stabbed by an inmate and are now said to be in a stable condition.

Tom Wheatley, President of the Prison Governors' Association, dismissed the proposals as "headline-grabbing nonsense". He told the : "If this was needed, why wouldn't armed police be deployed rather than creating another trained force in our service?"

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) warned it won't be long before a warden is killed while on duty due to the surge of violence in Britain's overcrowded jails.

Mark Fairhurst, National Chair of the POA, fumed: "We are asking for Tasers and the use of non-lethal options. If we ever need firearm support we have an agreement with chief constables to provide mutual aid.

"The Tories think we need this level of protection but we need to exhaust all other options first, including adequate protections for staff and 'supermax' facilities."

The criticism comes after Mr Jenrick outlined the proposals on Sunday (June 1). He told Sky News: "Give them Tasers, give them stun grenades, give them baton rounds and give them access to lethal weapons."

He said the Chief Inspector of Prisons has said he can see a situation where people such as Islamist terrorists are able to access weapons or explosives via drones and holding‌‌ prison officers hostage or even killing them.

Mr Jenrick warned: "This is going to happen unless the Government take action."

High-profile attacks by inmates have included Manchester Arena plotter Hashem Abedi targeting prison staff with boiling oil and homemade weapons in a planned ambush.

Southport killer allegedly by pouring boiling water over them.

A trial which will give Tasers to specialised officers dealing with serious incidents is due to be launched this summer.

Officers already have access to batons and Pava spray, which is a synthetic form of pepper spray, in men's prisons in the public sector.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Commons on Tuesday (June 3) that prison officers will be told to wear body armour in settings at the highest categories of prisons in England and Wales.

She told MPs the measure would apply to close supervision centres, separation centres and segregation units.

Ms Mahmood asked Jonathan Hall KC to lead an independent review into events at Frankland in County Durham, which will examine whether current protection for prison officers is sufficient.

He will also assess whether separation centres, which are in place to manage the most dangerous prisoners, are fit for purpose.

The Justice Secretary said in the Commons: "Today I can announce I will mandate its use in close supervision centres, separation centres and segregation units in the high security estate. This is my initial response to the review, but I will set out further action on body armour in due course.

"When Jonathan Hall's independent review into the Frankland attack reports, I will take any further steps necessary to protect our brave staff."

Mr Jenrick told MPs he still fears for prison officers' safety. He hit out at Rudakubana having .

He said: "Brave prison officers are under attack if the Government doesn't act now. I'm warning once again that an officer will be killed on the Justice Secretary's watch. After the Southport killer Axel Rudakubana allegedly attacked an officer with boiling water, he is now bingeing on treats like Maltesers and Pringles.

"When will the Justice Secretary strip Rudakubana and monsters like him of these privileges and put them in solitary confinement, and when will she finally have the backs of all our brave prison officers by giving each and every one of them the protection that they need in the form of high-collar, stab-proof vests, not just a privileged view in the most limited circumstances?"

Ms Mahmood said: "Let me just give the shadow minister a much-needed education here because he appears not to know that under the Tory government, violence on staff in our prisons soared and experienced officers left in droves because of it.

"That is inheritance that I have received and that is the mess this Government is clearing up. He will know I have already acted on suspending the use of self-cook facilities, I've got Jonathan Hall looking into the HMP Frankland attack, I've made the announcement on body armour, and I won't hesitate to take any further action, but unlike him I won't make, and I quote 'headline-grabbing measures', just for the sake of a headline."