Prison officers call for batons

Prison officers are to call for all warders to be given metal batons to defend themselves from assault.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) conference will vote on allowing the extendable batons in more prisons.

The batons are currently carried by officers in adult male and young offender prisons in England and Wales.

POA members at Huntercombe jail in Oxfordshire will propose allowing extendable batons in juvenile, open, female and private prisons.

'Very violent'

Kevin Wilkinson, POA branch chairman at Huntercombe, which holds male prisoners under 18 years old, said: "Staff at juvenile establishments have got no protection equipment, and there have been a few assaults on staff who have been unable to protect themselves.

"The Prison Service's view is that juveniles are children. But they are not children, they are convicted criminals.

"They are very violent and therefore the staff need to be protected."

The union's national general secretary, Brian Caton, said he supported the proposals and predicted the motions would win approval.

The conference will be held at the Portsmouth Guildhall from 23 May.