Ex-prison governor urges Theresa May to deploy Army to jails as number of assaults RISE

Ian Acheson, who served as governor of HMP Erlestoke, admitted the suggestion was “radical” but he insisted more need to be done to protect prison staff and restore order.

Mr Acheson told BBC Newsnight: “There is a systemic and widespread instability in prisons and unless it is tackled, I really do fear that we’re going to see a member of staff killed on duty.

“If that isn’t sufficient, I would suggest that you need extra resources sent into prisons simply to stabilise them short term, and you could consider, for example, using the Army for that.”

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Ian Acheson has urged the Government to consider using the Army to restore order in prison

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He added: ”It’s a very radical measure. It’s a controversial measure and it does carry some risk.

“But the risks of doing nothing are simply too high, in my view, to not at least consider – exceptionally and for a short period of time – getting resources onto the landings to restore order and control.”

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures have revealed a rise in violence in prisons with 26,643 assaults recorded between March 2016 and March 2017.

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Mr Acheson fears if the Government does not act a staff member may get killed

I really do fear that we’re going to see a member of staff killed on duty

Ian Acheson

Of these incidents a shocking 7,159 were attacks on staff, which is equivalent to 20 assaults a day.

The MoJ has said action had been taken to increase prison officer numbers in light of the increased levels of assault inside prisons.

But the former of prison governor of HMP Erlestoke has hit back saying prison staff “need help now – not in six months’ time”.

He continued: ”There has to be some humility, frankly, from [the] Government to say, ‘We made a catastrophic mistake here in reducing staff so far and so fast.”

Mr Acheson’s comments come after riot police stormed HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire for the second time in 24 hours after prisoners seized one wing in scenes of mass unrest.

Last week riots squads were also called to HMP Hewell near Redditch, in Worcestershire, after inmates sparked an incident in one of the prison wings.