A prison officer has had their throat slashed by an inmate using an improvised weapon in the latest sign of the deteriorating security situation in British jails.
The staff member was attacked at HMP Woodhill, a high-security prison in Milton Keynes, according to the Prison Officers’ Association (POA).
In a separate incident at the same jail, another officer was attacked by an inmate detained under the Terrorism Act 2008, they said.
The union also reported a prison officer had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm after a prisoner faked an epileptic fit at Gartree Prison.
The incidents follow a string of other assaults involving prisoners in recent weeks, which have included three guards being attacked with hot oil by Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi.
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana ambushed the officer with hot water last Thursday, prompting him to be briefly admitted to hospital.
And last month, convicted murderer John Mansfield was killed last month inside HMP Whitemoor, Cambridgeshire.
POA’s Geoff Willetts said today: ‘I am advised that one of our members at HMP Woodhill was attacked by a prisoner who was detained under the Terrorism act of 2008.
‘The Officer was assaulted and injured while carrying out his duties.
‘In a separate incident at the same jail a prisoner was told to return to his cell, this resulted in a specialist officer being slashed with an improvised weapon sustaining injuries to the neck and ear.
‘The Officer attended hospital attention where they required stitches and surgical glue applied to their injuries.
‘Meanwhile at Gartree Prison, Market Harborough staff attended a medical emergency where a prisoner faked an epileptic fit.
‘A prison officer who attended to assist was assaulted then had a TV thrown at him and a female officer sustained a broken arm.’
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – is currently being held at HMP Woodhill after being transferred from Belmarsh last year.
Steve Gillan POA General Secretary said: ‘Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales.
‘It appears that HMPPS have learned nothing. They continue to ignore the calls from our members on the front line for urgent action to protect Prison Officers from violence.
‘It is clear Prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect Prison Officers before there is a fatality.’
‘My thoughts are with the Prison Officers who have been injured, the POA will offer them our full support.’
has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.