Prison lockdown as officers protest after stabbing (From Durham Times)

Prison lockdown as officers protest after stabbing

11:37am Friday 19th March 2010 in News

PRISON officers at a highsecurity jail refused to unlock inmates and passed a vote of no confidence in its governor following an attack in which a colleague was stabbed.

The Prison Service last night confirmed an incident had taken place at Frankland Prison, near Durham City, at lunchtime on Wednesday when an unspecified number of staff had briefly refused to unlock prisoners, before negotiations brought the situation to an end.

Feelings in the prison have been running high since Saturday when an inmate, said to be convicted killer Kevan Thakrar, attacked three officers with a broken vinegar bottle, leaving one fighting for his life.

A source told the Durham Times that officers were furious that governor Dave Thompson had not immediately locked down the prison and conducted a full search for weapons.

They “overwhelmingly”

passed a vote of no confidence in the governor. The source claimed that staff had also carried out their own lockdown and search.

The Prison Service declined to comment on the vote by officers, but a spokesperson said: “A number of staff at HMP Frankland refused to unlock prisoners after lunch.

“Senior managers spoke with the local Prison Officers’ Association branch and brought the situation to speedy resolution.”

The action came hours after Mr Thompson issued a statement insisting Frankland was safe, praising the professionalism of his officers and seeking to reassure the public.

Mr Thompson said: “This was a particularly nasty incident directed towards staff by one inmate.

“Thankfully, such incidents are rare and through the professionalism of staff at Frankland, it remains a safe environment, but due to the nature of our business there is always a danger that individuals who have a propensity for violence may resort to such behaviour.”

Colin Moses, chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association, said: “When are we going to see some sort of responsibility from the management and the governor, to stop glass instruments entering our prisons? We’re asking for an immediate ban on all glass containers coming into our prisons.”

The POA has also demanded officers be issued with stab vests.

The stabbing happened at about 9am, on Frankland’s Gwing as officers opened a cell door. Craig Wylde, 28, an officer at the prison for four years, was stabbed in the arm, suffering a severed artery and he remains in hospital.

A female officer was stabbed in the back and a third officer, who is believed to have rugby-tackled the prisoner, was slashed across the face.

Mr Wylde’s brother, Lee, said: “He’s the closest this country’s had to a prison officer being murdered.

“My brother himself thought he was gone. He could feel himself going. He could feel himself slipping away.”