Top Tory Robert Jenrick has demanded urgent reforms to prisons to protect officers, after an attack by Axel Rudakubana last Thursday. The vile Southport murdered threw boiling water over a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh, using a kettle in his cell.
Mr Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary, has now demanded urgent changes, including the removal of kettles from the cells of high-risk prisoners. He accused prison governors of “pandering” to evil killers, at the expense of the safety of prison staff. Mr Jenrick also sombrely warned that unless urgent changes are made, a prisoner will murder an officer.
The top Tory warned: “Violence against officers has spiralled out of control. The Secretary of State has ordered a snap review into the attack at HMP Frankland. Three weeks late no answers and no action.
“Every day long it goes on the safety of officers is at risk. When will it conclude? Why hasn’t every prison officer exposed to dangerous inmates already been provided with a stab vest? Not in June, but now, today.
“I’ve spoken to officers who say attacks with boiling water at not uncommon. Will he commit today to ordering the removal of every kettle from high risk prisoners? Not in June but now, today.
“This goes deeper than one review. Men like Rudakubana and Abedi glorify violence. They dream of martyrdom, and still governors pander to them.”
He blasted: “I couldn’t care less if Rudakubana never had a hot drink again, nor would the British public.
“The culture of appeasement, of protecting the rights of convicted terrorists and criminals over the safety of our officers must end. And it must end now.
“If that means keeping them in cells with just a bed, so be it. If it means no contact, no privileges and certainly no cups of tea, so be it. Let segregation truly and finally mean segregation.
“Because, and I want to say this as clearly as I can, I’m warning the house now: if the government doesn’t get a grip, a prison officer will be killed.
“We’ve had enough reviews, we need action. That’s the least prison officers deserve.”
Mr Rudakubana killed three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last July in Southport.
He was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January.
Responding, justice minister Nic Dakin insisted the government “will do whatever it takes to keep prison officers safe”.
“And that’s why we’ve taken the actions we already have. All prisons carry out regular risk assessments, and implemented appropriate safe systems of work."
He insisted: “If a risk is identified regarding kettle use, or intelligence is received that one might be used in an assault, then the kettle will be withdrawn.”
