Anyone found guilty of assaulting a prison officer must lose their right to walk out of prison early, an MP has said.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said prison officers must feel safe at work and their safety made a priority, not the rights of criminals.
Speaking in Justice Questions he said: “Isn’t it about time the government changed the law so anyone who was guilty of assaulting a prison officer lost their automatic right to early release, thereby acting as a huge deterrent to this appalling activity and giving the prison officers the support they deserve?”
Mr Davies – a long standing campaigner for criminals to service their sentences in full – said no one should be granted early release, especially not people who assault prison staff. He urged Government to act to show officers they are on their side.
Justice Minister Lucy Frazer said: “He is absolutely right about the issue of protecting our prison officers. We have as he will be aware raised increased the sentence in relation to assaults on prison staff and we are continuing to look at this matter.”
Ms Frazer also praised Mr Davies for raising many issues relating to the criminal justice system in recent years “all of which have been worthy of thinking about.”
Mr Davies added: “I am pleased the minister has said Government is continuing to look at this matter, but I urge them to act quickly. It is a common sense move which would show the prison staff we are on their side and send out a strong message to anyone that assaults on staff trying to do their job will not be tolerated.”