A courageous former prison officer, Claire Lewis, who was seriously injured in a brutal jail assault, brought her campaign to safeguard her ex-colleagues to Parliament. Claire, a mother of two, experienced a traumatic attack 16 years ago at Frankland jail in Durham, leading to severe PTSD and her retirement.
Advocating for the protection of all prison staff nationwide, Claire initiated a petition after an incident involving terrorist Hashem Abedi at Frankland. The government has committed to equipping 10,000 officers with protective body armor and providing Tasers to hundreds of frontline staff. However, Claire, aged 50, insists that all 23,000 prison officers should have adequate protection, a matter discussed in Parliament recently.
Emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding prison staff, Claire stated that the implemented protection measures should be effective and accessible to all personnel. Her efforts received support from local Labour MP Sharon Hodgson and former Conservative Minister Sir Julian Lewis, who raised the issue in Parliament.
Following a successful debate, Sir Julian highlighted the broad political support for mandatory anti-stab vests for all prison staff. Recognizing Claire’s advocacy, MPs commended her impactful work, leading to a £15 million investment in staff protection.
Claire cautioned against limiting anti-stab vests to specific units, citing the serious injuries suffered by officers during Abedi’s alleged assault. The incident prompted discussions on providing Taser guns to prison officers, akin to police officers who received anti-stab vests in 1994.
Acknowledging public support for her cause, Claire noted that sectors like traffic wardens and nightclub security already utilize protective vests. Her husband, Ged Mulheran, emphasized the importance of ensuring the efficacy of the supplied stab vests for staff safety.
The Prison Officers Association demands continuous provision of stab vests and Tasers for staff, stressing the rising incidents of PTSD diagnoses among personnel due to inadequate equipment. The Ministry of Justice affirmed its commitment to staff safety, highlighting the expansion of mandatory body armor use and other safety measures across prison facilities.
