Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment has been made of the level of risk of assaults on prison officers during duties requiring close contact with prisoners.

Prison officers receive training to manage and de-escalate potentially violent situations, including those involving close contact with prisoners. Risk assessments are conducted and kept under review, with prisons implementing appropriate controls to protect staff. Staff in the adult male estate have access to Body-Worn Video Cameras, batons, rigid-bar handcuffs and synthetic pepper spray, and we are investing around £15 million in protective equipment, including protective body armour prioritised for higher-risk environments.

HMPPS assesses the risk of assaults on prison officers through established risk assessment and violence monitoring processes, including consideration of risks associated with activities involving close contact with prisoners.