Written question asked by David Anderson (Labour) on Monday, 14 November 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 November 2011. It was answered by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Monday, 21 November 2011 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prisons: Uniform

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to ensure that prison officers are issued with (a) stab vests and (b) other personal protective equipment where necessary.

Answer: Stab resistant vests and other personal protective equipment are available to prison staff in circumstances where there is a particular risk that requires such equipment to be worn. Attacks on staff in prisons with bladed weapons are relatively rare and there are no plans to routinely equip all prison officers working in prisons with items such as stab-proof vests.All prison officers are trained in control and restraint techniques and receive personal protection training. In addition, prison officers working in the adult male and young adult male closed prison estate are all equipped with batons for use as a defensive weapon.

Secondary information