Assault highlights need for prison officer stab vests

The Prison Officers Association (POA) national chairman said the attack at Frank-land jail in County Durham on Saturday morning highlighted the degree of violence prison officers faced on a daily basis.

The three officers - one woman and two male officers - were attacked by an inmate with the weapon in G wing of the category A prison.

One male officer suffered an arterial bleed from an arm injury and was fortunate to survive the attack.

The female officer was stabbed in the back, while the third male officer was slashed across the face as he rugby-tackled the prisoner.

Mr Moses demanded that the Prison Service issue stab vests to all of his members.

"Once again this shows the violence in our prisons. We would like to see the Prison Service adopt a zero-tolerance to violence," he said.

"This could have been prevented by stab vests - stab vests which they (the Prison Service) flatly refuse to issue.

"I would also like to see a real investigation, not a whitewash as to why after years of complaining from prison officers and the POA they still use glass in prisons.

"This highlights the violence that prison officers face on a daily basis. We want something done."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Violence in prisons is not tolerated in any form. Assaults on prison staff are taken very seriously and depending on the severity will be dealt with internally or referred to the police."