Overview
- Axel Rudakubana, convicted of murdering three young girls, allegedly attacked a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh on May 8 by throwing boiling water heated in his cell kettle.
- Authorities have implemented a heightened security regime for Rudakubana, including a five-officer escort in PPE, restricted cell release, and feeding through a hatch, measures likened to Hannibal Lecter-style confinement.
- The Ministry of Justice has begun withdrawing kettles from high-risk prisoners based on intelligence, following this incident and a similar attack by Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi in April.
- Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has called for immediate removal of kettles from all high-risk inmates and provision of stab vests to all prison officers, warning of escalating violence in UK prisons.
- Official figures reveal a record 10,605 assaults on prison staff in 2024, prompting reviews into officer safety measures, including protective gear and segregation protocols.