Martin Geddes's life was forever changed by a violent assault in prison. The former officer describes how the incident 'ruined him as a person', leaving him struggling to cope with the trauma. His call for a wider rollout of Tasers across all prisons in England and Wales is now being considered, after the Ministry of Justice announced plans to expand their provision to 500 additional officers.
The initial trial of Taser deployment saw specialist officers use them on five occasions at four prisons between July 2025 and April this year. Although the stun guns were not discharged at prisoners, they were drawn from holsters in several incidents and used as a warning device in two facilities. This pilot scheme involved just 20 staff members from the Operational Response and Resilience Unit (ORRU), who handle high-risk situations such as hostage scenarios.
Violence within prisons remains a pressing concern. Last year, 31,345 assault incidents were recorded across England and Wales's prison system – with 3,484 categorised as 'serious', meaning the victim suffered significant harm or required medical attention. This figure has increased over the past four years but remains below the pre-pandemic peak of 3,861 incidents in 2017.
However, it is not just physical injuries that are a concern – prison officers often report suffering from mental health issues due to their work environment. In 2024, over 150,000 working days were lost across England's prisons due to mental ill-health, representing a 44% increase since 2019. Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), has welcomed the move towards increased use of Tasers.
While some, like John Podmore – a former prison governor – have raised concerns about making Tasers an everyday tool in prisons, others see their potential benefits. Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors' Association, suggests routine Taser deployment could enable quicker responses to serious incidents. However, not everyone is convinced that increasing the presence of weapons within correctional facilities will lead to a safer environment.
The Howard League for Penal Reform has voiced concerns about escalating tensions with more Tasers in prisons. As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: prison staff face significant challenges when dealing with increasingly violent offenders – and finding solutions to protect them is essential.