The UK government has announced an urgent review into protective gear for prison officers after convicted Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi carried out a violent attack on staff at HMP Frankland in County Durham.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that the Prison Service will assess the provision of body armour—including stab vests—for frontline staff. The move follows growing demands for increased protection after Abedi threw hot oil and stabbed officers with improvised weapons inside a high-security unit on Saturday.
Security Review and Extremism Audit Underway
Mahmood also revealed that a wider independent review into the incident is now in progress, alongside an audit of 230 prior recommendations from 19 government reviews into managing extremism in prisons over the past decade.
“Wherever I identify gaps in our defences or chances to better protect prison staff and the public, I will act,” Mahmood pledged.
She emphasized that Islamist extremism poses an ongoing threat, and said she would not tolerate its presence within the prison system.
Unions and Staff Demand Action
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has written directly to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging immediate reforms—including the distribution of stab-proof vests across the prison estate.
“If these changes aren’t made urgently, staff will die,” warned a Frankland officer, speaking anonymously to the BBC.
POA General Secretary Steve Gillan echoed the urgency, pointing out that officers are already working in high-risk environments with limited protection and underfunded resources.
Separation Unit Cleared, Kitchen Access Suspended
Following the attack, all inmates in the separation unit at HMP Frankland—reserved for highly dangerous extremists—were relocated. Abedi was transferred to HMP Belmarsh in London, while six other inmates were moved to HMP Woodhill, according to BBC sources.
In response to the incident, the government suspended access to kitchen areas in separation centres to limit opportunities for improvised weapons.
Repeat Offender: Abedi’s Violent Prison Record
Hashem Abedi, serving a minimum 55-year sentence for aiding his brother Salman Abedi in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, had previously assaulted prison staff at Belmarsh in 2020. That incident added nearly four more years to his sentence.
Saturday’s attack left four officers injured, with one still hospitalized due to serious injuries.
Families and Officials Demand Accountability
Victims’ families and public officials, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, have called for full accountability and stricter control over extremists in custody. Burnham emphasized that the government must explain how such a high-risk individual was allowed to commit another violent act within a maximum-security facility.
Conclusion: Security Overhaul Needed in UK Prisons
With extremism still simmering behind bars, the UK faces renewed pressure to fortify its prison security protocols. The outcome of the upcoming review will determine whether protective body gear becomes standard issue—and whether systemic reform can prevent future tragedies.
