Four prison staff members have been hospitalised after being assaulted by inmates at a prison in Liverpool, according to the Prison Officers Association (POA).
The attacks took place at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Walton, where staff are reportedly being forced to work alone on wings with up to 60 prisoners.
Mark Fairhurst, National Chairman of the POA and a HMP Walton prison officer, raised concerns about the increasing number of violent prisoners at the jail, which he said is exacerbating the safety issues faced by staff.
Fairhurst emphasised that staffing levels on each wing are not sufficient, stating, ” Quite simply, the staffing levels on each wing when we are unlocking prisoners are not safe.”
Following the assaults, staff retreated to a secure area and held a meeting with senior management to discuss their concerns about safety and working conditions.
Fairhurst criticised the prison management, saying they had “lost the dressing room” and lacked “empathy and sympathy” for staff.
He claimed that management had been responsible for the conflicts and that it was the staff who were unfairly blamed.
One of the most severe incidents involved a female prison guard who suffered a head injury, with reports stating her head was split open during an altercation at the prison, which houses 750 inmates.
The violent incident has sparked significant concerns regarding the safety of staff working in high-risk environments.
In response to the incidents, a spokesperson for Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPSS) condemned the attacks and reaffirmed its commitment to staff welfare.
” Those found guilty of causing harm to our hard-working frontline officers should expect to face the full force of the law,” the spokesperson said.
HMPSS also reiterated its commitment to the welfare of its staff, stating that it takes their concerns “incredibly seriously.”
The agency added that it regularly meets with the POA to discuss any issues or concerns, with ongoing efforts to address the challenges faced by prison officers.
