A prison officer has been taken to hospital with ‘serious injuries’ after being stabbed at a jail holding some of Britain’s most dangerous offenders.
The male warden was assaulted this morning at HMP Long Lartin, where current inmates include Thomas Cashman, murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Joanna Yeates’ killer Vincent Tabak.
A source with knowledge of the prison told MailOnline the attacker used a flick-knife brought in by a drone.
They said drones were a ‘real issue’ at the prison and warned an officer ‘would be killed’ if the problem was not resolved.
‘This happened this morning – a flick-knife got in and a prisoner stabbed an officer,’ the source said. ‘The governor isn’t stopping the drones coming in – they are dropping items to prisoners in their cells.
‘Something needs doing because this kind of thing is always happening. A prison officer is going to be killed soon.’
The Prison Service confirmed an officer had been stabbed but declined to comment on the nature of the weapon while police investigate. They said the officer was stable.
The incident follow a string of other assaults involving prisoners in recent weeks, including Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi.
The male warden was assaulted this morning at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire (file photo)
An officer pictured at a gate at HMP Long Lartin. A recent report criticised the jail’s failure to tackle drones
Just last month it was revealed convicted murderer John Mansfield was killed after having a weight smashed on his head during a brutal attack at the high security prison.
The shocking security breach took place a day after Abedi attacked three prison officers with hot oil inside a separation unit at HMP Frankland, Co Durham.
And just weeks ago a ‘specialist’ prison offer had their throat slashed by an inmate using an improvised weapon at HMP Woodhill.
A recent inspection of Long Lartin found that the surveillance technology it is using is ‘unserviceable’ and fails to stop drones from carrying drugs and phones into the grounds.
It revealed how jail chiefs have even tried to ‘patch up’ faulty kit with scrap parts salvaged from other prisons.
Inspectors said security at the Worcestershire jail needs urgent upgrades so wings can be monitored adequately.
Two-thirds of Long Lartin inmates are serving life sentences, with the rest serving terms of ten years or more.
Current prisoners include Jake Fahri, who is serving life for the murder of schoolboy Jimmy Mizen and Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright.
Previous inmates have included murderer Jeremy Bamber, terror preacher Abu Hamza, gangster Charlie Kray and Charles Bronson.
Current prisoners at HMP Long Lartin include Thomas Cashman and Vincent Tabak, who kidnapped and murdered Joanna Yeates
Charles Bronson (pictured, in 2004) was previously locked up at Long Lartin
Inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board called on the Government, Prison Service and the governor at Long Lartin to ‘prioritise’ security at the jail.
They wrote: ‘Minimal attempts have been made to repair obsolete equipment. At times use has been made of outdated components removed from other prisons.’
The report went on to say drone deliveries of contraband had ‘widened access to drugs and mobile phones’ in the jail, causing ‘bullying, instability and violence’.
It said 86 drones had been spotted, with 31 packages ‘intercepted’, and both staff and visitors had been caught bringing illicit items in.
West Mercia Police said: ‘We were called to HMP Long Lartin in South Littleton around 10am this morning (Friday, May 30), following a report someone had been assaulted by an inmate.
‘One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after sustaining a stab wound. The inmate remains within the prison and the investigation is on-going. ‘
West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called to reports of a stabbing at a location off Sheenhill Road near South Littleton, Evesham at 8.39am.
‘An ambulance, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham were sent to the scene. On arrival, crews found a man who they treated for serious injuries before he was airlifted to hospital for further treatment.’
The incident follow a string of other assaults involving prisoners in recent weeks, including Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi
Abedi had attacked three prison guards at HMP Frankland, leaving them with life-threatening injuries. He threw boiling oil over the officers and then stabbed them with a homemade weapon
It comes amid warnings from experts that there has been a ‘collapse in security’ in the jails housing Britain’s most dangerous criminals.
The Prison Service is currently conducting a ‘snap review’ into the use of protective body armour for prison officers, while the use of tasers is being trialled in jails.
Reacting to attacks earlier this month, Prison Officers’ Association General Secretary Steve Gillan said: ‘Escalating levels of violence are out of control in the prison service in England and Wales.
‘It appears that HMPPS have learned nothing. They continue to ignore the calls from our members on the front line for urgent action to protect Prison Officers from violence.
‘It is clear Prison regimes must be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We need action to protect Prison Officers before there is a fatality.’
A Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin.
‘We will not tolerate assaults on hardworking staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators.’
