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Closed Fund stab vests as standard PPE for all prison officers

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

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.

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  • Related activity

    Mandatory body armour for prison officers: debate in Parliament

    On 26 March, MPs debated the potential merits of mandatory body armour for prison officers.

    This was a Backbench Business debate led by Sir Julian Lewis MP. Justice Minister Jake Richards MP responded on behalf of the Government.

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    They do not generally involve a vote on a particular action or decision.

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  • Petition closed

  • Related activity

    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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  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 12 November 2025.