The Real Cost of Not Protecting Prison Officers

Violence against prison officers is rising – not just in the UK, but around the world. From stabbings and blunt force trauma to serious mental health consequences, the risks are escalating, and yet, in many countries, real protection for staff remains limited.

Take the UK for example: over £1.1 million was paid out in compensation to staff injured at just three Norfolk prisons in the last five years. That’s millions lost to punches, bites, and assaults – not to mention recruitment costs, sick leave, and trauma recovery.

It’s not just alarming. It’s unsustainable. But here is what doesn’t add up. If the cost of not protecting staff is this high, why aren’t prisons investing in better protection?

What are the Pros and Cons of Not Protecting Prison Officers?

We get it – budgets are tight. The justice sector has been under pressure for years. But if financial pressure is the reason staff aren’t being issued proper protective equipment, then the logic doesn’t hold up. Because let’s be honest, how much longer can the system afford these constant payouts, sick leave, recruitment costs, and legal claims? More importantly, how long can we ask frontline officers to put themselves in danger with little more than training, a radio and their instinct?

So lets break it down:

Pros of Not Protecting Prison Officers:

• You save money… today

Cons of Not Protecting Prison Officers:

• Staff are at constant risk of serious physical harm
• Mental health trauma – stress, anxiety, burnout
• Compensation and legal claims (Norfolk alone paid out £1.1 million in 5 years)
• Higher recruitment costs to replace injured or resigned staff
• Loss of experienced officers – which weakens safety and response capabilities
• Reputation damage for failing to protect your team
• Public accountability – when incidents hit headlines and inquiries follow

With so many clear and compounding risks, how is this still a question of budget? And this isn’t just isolated to Norfolk.

According to House of Commons Library research, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats and published by The Guardian and other news outlooks, there were 26,912 assaults in prisons across England and Wales in 2023 – an average of 74 per day. Of those, around 25 each day were on staff, and about 3,200 were classified as serious.

Source: The Guardian, Dec 2024

This marked a 28% increase in assaults compared to 2022, as prisons continue to face pressure from overcrowding, staffing shortages, and deteriorating conditions. With violence at this scale, the cost of doing nothing is only increasing – financially and morally.

In response to the latest Ministry of Justice figures highlighting the same increase in assaults as above, Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), stated:

“These figures expose the true picture of violence in the prisons of England and Wales… the highest level of violence ever… any action they have taken has been ineffective.”

Source: POA Trade Union, Feb 2025

When the downsides are this severe and the financial impact already visible in the form of legal claims, injuries and staff turnover the conversation needs to shift from “Can we afford protection?” to “Can we afford not to?”

This isn’t about over-equipping or overreacting, it’s about taking practical, proven steps to reduce harm, retain staff, and strengthen the overall system.

Let’s Be Clear – This Is About Practical Protection

We’re not talking about riot gear or intimidating hard shells. We’re talking about lightweight body armour and protective clothing designed to reduce injury, reduce costs and ensure staff safety is at the forefront of organisations.

The kind of protection that helps prevent:

• Blunt force trauma from kicks, punches, or thrown objects
• Stabbings and improvised sharp weapon attacks
• Spitting and biting in close quarters

Prison Staff Retention is Crumbling due to Safety

When experienced staff leave, prisons lose more than manpower. They lose institutional memory, frontline instincts, and the leadership that holds teams together.
Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor called this out clearly during his 2025 inspection of HMP Winchester:

“Although a full complement of prison officers had been recruited, too many staff lacked competence and confidence. Not enough had been done by leaders to make sure that standards were enforced or that prisoners’ basic needs were met.”

Source: HMI Prisons, Jan 2025

The result? Unsafe regimes, crumbling morale, and conditions where violence thrives.

Ask yourself this – would you want to stay in a job where you’re regularly assaulted and unsupported?

Prevention Over Payouts

So what does £1.1 million in payouts tell us? The government is spending money on the consequences of violence and not the prevention of it.

It’s reactive, not proactive.
It’s short-term thinking.
It’s costing more than money – it’s costing wellbeing, trust, and team morale.

At PPSS Group, we believe the conversation has to change – and we know we’re not the only ones. Why aren’t more prisons investing in protective gear like body armour and slash-resistant clothing that could reduce injury claims, boost staff confidence, and keep experienced officers in the job?

This isn’t just a domestic issue – and other nations are moving faster to protect their frontline professionals.

In March 2025, PPSS Group announced a strategic partnership with AGUERZCORP in Morocco, supplying stab-resistant body armour to correctional officers and government agencies across the country. Morocco recognises this growing threat to its prison staff and therefore acted proactively, choosing to invest in high-performance PPE to prevent serious injuries before they happen.

If countries like Morocco can recognise the value of prevention, it raises an uncomfortable question: What’s stopping us from doing the same here in the UK?

 “Can we afford to invest in better protection for prison officers?”

That might be the question government departments or budget holders ask before deciding not to invest. But maybe the better question is:

• If an officer gets stabbed on duty, what happens next?
• If they were wearing certified stab-resistant body armour, would they have walked away?
• Would the compensation claim have been avoided?
• Would that officer still be on the job today – confident, protected, and able to do what they do best? 

The Cost of Doing Nothing In Prisons Is Rising

If we’re serious about reducing assaults, improving retention, and creating safer working conditions, then body armour isn’t an expense — it’s a life-saving investment.

A stab-resistant vest could prevent a £50,000 claim. It could protect a spine. A lung. A life.

If you’re involved in prison management, procurement, or staff welfare, ask yourself, honestly:

• Are you seeing the same rise in incidents?
• Do your officers feel protected?
• Would you utilise body armour if it meant fewer injuries and claims?

We’re here to support, advise, and listen – because protecting your team should never come down to waiting for an incident, rather than preventing one.

About the Author

Mike Bird brings over 35 years of frontline experience across custodial, security, and care settings. His career began with two decades in the UK prison service, where he specialised in the Use of Force and served as a National Instructor with the National Tactical Response Group (NTRG).

Following his service, Mike founded his own consultancy, delivering expert training and operational guidance to police and prison services in Abu Dhabi, Oman, Macedonia, Nigeria, The Hague, and across the UK. In recent years, he has also supported Secure Children’s Homes and Young Offender Institutes, working closely with senior leaders to manage high-risk individuals and improve staff safety.