Justice Secretary David Lammy announced a large expansion in body armour for prison staff, increasing stab‑proof vests from 750 to 10,000. The plan was unveiled during a visit to Belmarsh prison in south‑east London and includes 5,000 vests that will be fitted for guards working in high‑security facilities. The package also provides 500 Tasers for trained staff in local response teams based in prisons, up from 20 for specialist staff when the trial began in July. The investment is backed by £15 million of funding.

Three officers were taken to hospital with serious injuries after an incident at HMP Frankland in April, where attackers used hot oil and improvised weapons. Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, has been charged with attempting to murder prison officers and is due to appear in court on 25 September. Independent reviewer Jonathan Hall KC has been appointed to lead an inquiry into the incident and to advise on improvements to frontline officer safety. Lammy said the attack was horrific for good people who sign up to prison service.

The government says the measures sit alongside the Sentencing Bill, introduced to Parliament earlier this month to help address the prison capacity crisis following emergency measures during last year’s riots. The cabinet reshuffle that saw Lammy take the role of justice secretary followed Shabana Mahmood’s departure. The Ministry of Justice said there were 87,578 people in custody on Monday, 943 fewer than the 88,521 peak reached last September. Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the steps but urged rapid delivery, describing the prison system as a national security issue and calling for anti‑drone technology to stop weapons entering facilities.