UK Conservatives Call to Arm Specialist Prison Officers Against Islamist Extremist Threat

The Conservative Party, led by Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, has called for specialist prison officers in the UK to be armed with lethal weapons, Tasers, stun grenades, and high-collar stab-proof vests to combat a rising threat from Islamist extremist inmates and violent prisoners. This proposal follows a rapid review by former prison governor Ian Acheson, highlighting a national security emergency due to violent attacks on staff, including incidents involving notorious inmates like Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi and Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. Jenrick emphasized the urgent need to regain control of prisons, warning of risks such as kidnappings, murders, or terrorist attacks orchestrated from within prisons if the government does not act swiftly. The plan also includes removing radical Islamist imams from prisons and mandating regular data releases on religious conversions and faith-based incidents. While the Prison Officers Association supports non-lethal options like Tasers and mutual aid agreements for firearms, Ministry of Justice sources caution that introducing guns could increase risks for staff, stressing ongoing efforts to build new prisons and adopt tougher segregation policies. The debate underscores tensions between enhancing officer protection and managing the complexities of prison security amid escalating violence and extremism.