April 7th 2024.
Last year, there were multiple incidents of violence that occurred in different areas of HMP Belmarsh, which involved both individual inmates and groups. These clashes often included the use of makeshift weapons and even targeted sex offenders, who were identified through media coverage. The Ministry of Justice recently released a list of 282 assaults at the prison under the Freedom of Information Act, giving insight into the extent of the violence.
One incident detailed in the logs obtained by The Agency was an attack by seven prisoners on another inmate, believed to be gang-related. The outnumbered prisoner sustained facial injuries and was given painkillers by a nurse. On another occasion, three prisoners fought with two others in the showers, and one of the attackers was found with a weapon as he tried to dispose of it.
There were also instances of staff being assaulted by inmates at HMP Belmarsh, with some attacks involving weapons. In one case, a worker was burned with a mixture of boiling water, oil, and Vaseline thrown by an inmate who claimed the worker had been disrespectful. The log also notes that there were 14 incidents identified as gang-related, showing the level of violence at this Category A prison, known as "Britain's toughest jail."
The prison has housed well-known inmates such as Soham killer Ian Huntley, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, and the killers of PC Andrew Harper. The logs also reveal assaults on staff members, including a "jugging" incident where an orderly was attacked by an inmate who accused them of disrespect.
Sex offenders were also targeted on multiple occasions, with the attackers recognizing them from media coverage of their cases. In one instance, the victim reported being assaulted by four inmates who recognized him as a sex offender.
The rising number of assaults and self-harm incidents at Belmarsh has raised concerns, according to Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform. The Ministry of Justice released the data, stating that it has not yet been published as part of official safety statistics and has not undergone scrutiny.
The Prison Service does not tolerate violence and has implemented measures to reduce the presence of weapons, drugs, and mobile phones. These include phone-blocking technology, additional body scanners, and the provision of PAVA, a synthetic pepper spray for officers. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice stated that assaults have decreased by 20% since 2019 and that they have invested £100 million in security measures to combat violence in prisons.
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