*Prison Officers.Org.UK

Don't worry about it Lag. It's just one of those things. There are people that get assualted in there jobs and in the streets daily. Sadly it appears to be on the rise every where and not just in jail's.
Yes it may be more likely to happen at work in an establishment but in my opinion it's the best place it could happen as you have the back up of your colleagues and hopefully an after care package although I've heard some horror stories and failures to support but hopefully they are few and far between.

Sorry to hear you've been assaulted yourself
I also believe that if you treat them well - you are at lower risk but I'll never trust any one of them. I wouldn't describe it as tenterhooks because I'm not always worried - that's not my character. Just awareness towards my environment to be honest. mind I'm brand new to the role however there are some personal qualities I'm sure that I'll never drop and this is one of them.

I have been assaulted myself. But as I said it was just one of those occasions that 'any uniform would do'. So I stand by if you good to them there are more likely to be good to you.
And if you're entering in to this role expecting to be on tenter hooks 24/7 then is it really a role you want?? I wouldn't want to be worried all the time.

Sorry crazyParsnip....tell that to the Officer on here in the last 6 months who was potted in the face by someone he thought he'd formed a rapport with... He'll be due his results for hep B, HIV and the more minor ones soon. Yes I agree there is the odd 'stuck in a timewarp ' officer which may even result in the assault of anyone in a uniform. Do not EVER be under the illusion that you are immune to their assaults. If they're in the mood and you're the first uniform passing through, you're it. Always be ready.

I'd argue the opposite re uniform. 99% know you're doing a job and a lot can actually sympathize with how things are re staffing etc.
But yes, when you get the odd Charlie, Uniform, November, Tango that wants a roll around then the uniform is there outlet.

Its the uniform that is the target.
Youll get officers who want to be horrible but very rare im sure.
We get a few general alarms a day but they are minor and sometimes its just a prisoner refusing something then wanted to cause hassle and trouble.

They do happen but not as much as pointed out by the media at all.

I'm hearing your point crazyParsnip however from all different stories I've been told and even seen on here - if the prisoner wants to cause a ruckus and make a point via assaulting an officer - 9 times out of 10 - it's the uniform that's the target - not the officer who unfortunately bears the brunt of the assault...

I always likened the likely hood off getting hit in jail to working behind a bar, if you're a knob to people then you're obviously more likely to get lamped but if your respectfully and polite. But there are always the exceptions.

James118 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 28, 2017 3:30 pm

Hi guys this is truly mad.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 5754136528

thanks for sharing. Male or female - no officer should have to endure this. I hope the cons responsible were suitably punished.

Judy, just curious. Why would you maintain contact with an ex prisoner/con??? It bewilders me!

Hi guys this is truly mad.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 5754136528

Only one problem Scouse, they (Con/Dems) don't want 'em in prison. It'll be interesting to see if the CPS press charges against the 3 at Full Sutton and if they do, what the punishment will be.

*Touch wood* Ive never been assaulted. Assaults on staff are getting ridiculous though. There's no deterrent for prisoners, you press for outside charges, the CPS drop it as it's "not in the public's interest", what about our interests? if we were to unlock a cell door and kick a prisoner sh*tless, it would be bye bye job and we'd be in the dock explaining ourseleves.

Charges need to stick on prisoners who assault staff, Im talking added years here. That's the only way I can see this getting better.

Assaults on staff is a difficult one, because the motives and circumstances are so varied. But research suggests that a screw is most likely to be assaulted in his first few years on the job, probably because he has yet to develop the subtle, instinctive interpersonal skills needed to deal with such a varied population.

That said, the two stories kicking off this thread elicited zero sympathy from me. Dartmoor was a notoriously brutal nick in its day and I can't recall anyone posting about the brutality in the Block. What goes around...

I wonder, though, just how many assaults arise from misapprehension or misunderstanding? With most staff having little appreciation of what it is actually like to "do bird" and the pressures that can accompany that, then the odds of them saying the wrong thing to the wrong guy at the wrong time would escalate rapidly.

It is possible to be a professional and still retain a sense of humanity or empathy with the individual con. Can I suggest that someone -anyone - check to see if nicks rated as having excellent staff-prisoner relationships have lower con-staff assault rates?