Closed petition Fund stab vests as standard PPE for all prison officers

We want the Government to provide prison officers with stab vests as part of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

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We are concerned that current policy does not adequately protect prison officers, who all want to go home to their families at the end of the day and we feel that prospect is becoming more uncertain for prison officers. Assaults on prison officers are increasing, we feel there is an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude towards them. Some other professions are issued stab vests, prison officers want the same protection.

This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months

238 signatures

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10,000 signatures required to get a government response

  1. Government responds to petition on Anti-stab and anti-slash protective gear in prisons

    The Government has responded to a public (paper) petition calling for prison officers to be equipped with mandatory anti-stab and anti-slash protective gear. The petition was presented to the House of Commons by Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP on behalf of residents of the constituency of Washington and Gateshead South.

    The petition asks the House of Commons to take into account concerns of petitioners and take action to ensure all prison officers are equipped with mandatory anti-stab and anti-slash protective gear.

    In response to the petition's request, the Government states that they commissioned a review to use of protective body armour - also known as stab-proof vests - in prisons. Following that review, on 3 June the Lord Chancellor announced the mandating of PBA for use in separation centres, close supervision centres and segregation units in the long-term high-security estate. They expect to issue the stab-and-slash-resistant PBA to staff by autumn 2025.

    What are public (paper) petitions?

    A public (paper) petition is a petition to the House of Commons presented by an MP.

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