Prison officers given pepper spray to combat violence

Prison officers in England and Wales are to be given pepper spray to combat violence in jails, Prisons Minister Rory Stewart has said. The spray has been trialled in four prisons, and will now be rolled out to all jails which house male prisoners. But a former prison officer has criticised the move, saying there’s a risk the sprays could be turned on officers. It comes as a report into the dire conditions at Exeter Prison is published.