Prison officers should be armed, say Conservatives

Prison officers dealing with violent inmates in high security jails should be armed, the shadow justice secretary has said.

Robert Jenrick told the BBC that specialist guards should have Taser stun guns and baton rounds – a less lethal alternative to traditional bullets – to give them "confidence" in handling threats.

He also said they should have access to lethal weapons during "emergency situations".

Prison officers in adult male prisons currently only carry an extendable baton and Pava, a synthetic pepper spray.