A shocking and brutal attack at HMP Frankland in County Durham has ignited a fierce debate about the safety of prison officers and the control of high-security jails.
On Saturday, three prison officers were left fighting for their lives after a terrifying assault by terrorist inmate Hashem Abedi, one of the most dangerous prisoners in the UK.
This attack, which saw officers doused with boiling oil and stabbed with makeshift blades, has raised urgent questions about how radicalised extremists are allowed to operate with such alarming freedom within the prison system.
The Attack That Should Have Never Happened
Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi, was serving a life sentence after helping his brother plan the devastating 2017 attack.
Yet, despite his notoriety and violent history, he was allowed privileges that should have been unthinkable for someone of his dangerous profile.
One of these privileges was access to a self-cooking kitchen in the prison, where he managed to fashion two 20cm blades from a baking tray.
He then used these blades to launch a brutal assault on the officers. The injuries were horrific; one officer was stabbed in the neck, narrowly missing an artery, and another was repeatedly stabbed in the back.
The boiling oil caused third-degree burns, leaving the officers in excruciating pain.
A System Failing to Protect Its Own
The attack has brought to light a disturbing reality within UK prisons, particularly in high-security jails like HMP Frankland.
Conservative justice spokesman Robert Jenrick has called for a major overhaul of the system, accusing the Ministry of Justice of appeasing dangerous individuals at the expense of prison staff.
He argues that the welfare of officers must be prioritized over the supposed rights of radicalised inmates.
“The safety of prison officers is infinitely more important than the supposed ‘welfare’ of wicked individuals,” Jenrick stated.
The attack also raised alarms about the rise of self-styled ‘brotherhood’ gangs within prisons, often led by extremist inmates.
These gangs are said to control significant portions of the prison population, enforcing their own rules and beliefs.
Non-Muslim prisoners are reportedly coerced into converting to Islam for their own protection, and inmates who refuse face violent retribution.
This brutal reality has led many to question who really controls Britain’s prisons: the Ministry of Justice or these radicalised gangs?
The Need for Immediate Action
Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association, has demanded that serious terrorist prisoners be banned from using self-cooking facilities, as the risk to staff is simply too great.
He has also called for prison officers to be equipped with stab-proof vests and even Tasers to protect themselves in the event of future attacks. “The risks are clear,” he said.
“We cannot allow these prisoners to continue to have access to weapons that could endanger the lives of officers.”
Meanwhile, former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson, who had previously recommended the creation of separation centres for extremist prisoners, pointed out that the failure to control these dangerous individuals has become a serious security lapse.
“The state is not fully in control of these high-security prisons,” he said.
“This attack could have easily resulted in the first murder of a prison officer in living memory, and that would have had profound consequences for the future of prison staff.”
The Radicalisation of UK Prisons
Abedi’s attack is not an isolated incident. Across the UK, there are reports of extremist prisoners using their influence to radicalise other inmates.
These gangs enforce their own codes, dictate prayer times, and even run their own “sharia courts” to punish those they deem guilty of blasphemy.
The presence of such extreme ideologies within prisons poses a significant risk not only to prison staff but also to society at large, as these individuals are given access to the resources to further their radical agendas.
The Ministry of Justice announced a review of the attack at HMP Frankland, but questions remain about how Abedi was ever allowed access to a kitchen in the first place.
Critics argue that the security lapses are the result of a broader failure to take the threat of Islamist extremism seriously within the prison system.
In response, Jenrick has called for an independent investigation and accountability at the highest levels.
The Way Forward: Reform or Disaster?
The attack at HMP Frankland should serve as a turning point in the way the UK handles extremist prisoners.
Jenrick has called for a complete re-evaluation of the system, including the immediate deportation of foreign nationals convicted of terrorism-related offenses.
He also believes that the government must act swiftly to implement the recommendations of former government adviser Ian Acheson, which were largely ignored since their publication in 2016.
These measures could include better surveillance, more stringent controls over terrorist prisoners, and a crackdown on the radicalisation that continues to thrive behind bars.
Furthermore, the continued use of self-cooking facilities in high-security prisons must be scrutinised.
While these kitchens were designed to allow inmates to develop life skills, they have become a dangerous tool for those intent on causing harm.
Jenrick’s call for a “full independent investigation” into the attack at HMP Frankland is just the beginning of what must be a larger reform effort to ensure the safety of both staff and the public.
What Needs to Change
The events at HMP Frankland should not be allowed to slip under the radar as just another prison incident.
The treatment of radicalised extremists within the UK prison system has reached a breaking point, and a complete overhaul is required.
Whether it’s limiting access to dangerous materials or ensuring the protection of prison officers, the government must act before we see more attacks like this one.
The safety of our prison staff and the security of our nation depend on it.