Key Takeaways
- A report examining the Manchester Arena plotter’s alleged violent attack on prison officers recommends a new punishment and rewards system for the most dangerous inmates.
- The system, similar to that used in US Supermax jails, would allow privileges to be earned or taken away based on closely monitored standards of behavior.
- The report, commissioned by the then lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, has been completed and sent to the lord chancellor’s office, but its publication has been delayed.
- Demands are being made for the report to be published immediately, with Labour’s Andy Slaughter calling for transparency and accountability.
- The incident that prompted the report involved Hashem Abedi, who was jailed for life for helping his brother carry out the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, and allegedly targeted prison staff at HMP Frankland with boiling oil and homemade weapons.
Introduction to the Report
The long-awaited report on the Manchester Arena plotter’s alleged violent attack on prison officers has been completed and sent to the lord chancellor’s office. The report, which was commissioned by the then lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, in May, recommends a new punishment and rewards system for the most dangerous inmates. This system, similar to that used in US Supermax jails, would allow privileges to be earned or taken away based on closely monitored standards of behavior. The report’s recommendations are aimed at preventing similar attacks from happening in the future.
The Incident that Prompted the Report
The incident that prompted the report involved Hashem Abedi, who was jailed for life for helping his brother carry out the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Abedi allegedly targeted prison staff at HMP Frankland with boiling oil and homemade weapons in a planned ambush. The attack, which occurred on April 12, left three prison officers injured, with two of them suffering stab wounds. The incident triggered outrage among survivors and victims’ families, with many calling for greater accountability and transparency in the prison system.
The US Supermax Model
The report’s recommendations are based on the model used in US Supermax jails, such as the ADX Florence prison in Colorado. In this system, prisoners are continuously evaluated by staff, and those who behave well are rewarded with modest but significant extra privileges. These privileges can include access to exercise, radio, and television. On the other hand, bad behavior can lead to restrictions in contact with other inmates and the removal of privileges. This system is designed to incentivize good behavior and reduce the risk of violence.
Calls for Publication
Despite the report being completed and sent to the lord chancellor’s office in August, its publication has been delayed. Labour’s Andy Slaughter, the chair of the House of Commons’ justice select committee, has called for the report to be published immediately. Slaughter argued that while allowances can be made for the Ministry of Justice and its ministers, the public and parliament have a right to see the report’s recommendations. The report’s publication is seen as crucial in ensuring that similar attacks do not happen again in the future.
The Attack and its Aftermath
The attack on prison staff at HMP Frankland has raised questions about the prison system’s ability to manage extremist offenders. Abedi was being held in a separation centre at the time of the attack, which is a specialized unit designed to keep terrorists away from the general prison population. The incident has prompted a review of the separation centre system and the way in which extremist offenders are managed. The Ministry of Justice has announced measures to improve prison staff safety, including the rollout of body armor and the expanded use of Tasers.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The report’s publication is eagerly awaited, and its recommendations are expected to have significant implications for the prison system. The Ministry of Justice has stated that it is thoroughly reviewing the report and will publish it and its response in due course. Abedi is due to appear at the Old Bailey in February, and the outcome of the trial will be closely watched. In the meantime, the debate about prison reform and the management of extremist offenders is likely to continue, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in the prison system.