Prison officers in the UK’s most dangerous jails should be armed with Tasers and baton rounds to better manage violent inmates, the Conservative Party has proposed.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said officers must be equipped to defend themselves and others as violence behind bars continues to rise. Speaking to the BBC, Jenrick warned that without enhanced protections, it was “only a matter of time” before a prison officer is “held hostage and potentially killed.”
The proposals include deploying specialist officers trained in using Taser stun guns and baton rounds—non-lethal alternatives to live ammunition—alongside establishing secure armouries in high-security prisons. These weapons, Jenrick said, would only be used in extreme circumstances and would not be carried routinely by officers patrolling cell blocks.
Currently, prison staff in adult male prisons carry extendable batons and Pava spray, a type of synthetic pepper spray. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed that some officers will begin trialling Tasers this summer. However, the department has raised concerns that introducing more weaponry could escalate risks to staff.
The call for stronger deterrents comes amid a string of violent incidents against prison workers, with the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) demanding greater protection for its members. The union has backed the Conservative proposal, urging the government to make stun guns available to officers working in the most volatile prison environments.
The policy recommendations follow a party-commissioned review by former prison governor Ian Acheson, which assessed safety and operational standards across the prison estate. In addition to arming select officers, the Conservatives are also pushing for the immediate rollout of stab-resistant vests with high collars for frontline staff.
Labour, however, criticised the announcement, pointing to the Conservatives’ record in government. A party spokesperson said that during 14 years in office, the Tories added fewer than 500 prison places while shutting down 1,600 high-security cells, allowing prison violence to rise unchecked.
“They’re now scrambling to fix problems of their own making,” the spokesperson said.
Jenrick acknowledged that the previous Conservative governments had fallen short. “We should have done more,” he said. “But now, in opposition, it is my job to offer sensible solutions.”
The MoJ confirmed that body armour is already used in high-risk areas like segregation units and that a “snap review” is underway to consider broader use of protective gear. Findings from that review are expected in the coming days.
