UK Considers US-style Prison Rewards System Following Manchester Arena Plotter’s Attack
A long-awaited report examining the circumstances surrounding an alleged violent attack by Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi on prison officers is prompting calls for a radical overhaul of the UK’s prison system, potentially mirroring the incentive-based approach used in high-security US facilities. The report, commissioned in May, recommends a new system of punishments and rewards for the moast dangerous inmates, designed to improve security and manage long-term offenders.
The review, led by Jonathan Hall KC, the self-reliant reviewer of terrorism legislation, was launched following a disturbing incident at HMP Frankland in Durham on April 12th. Abedi, already serving a life sentence for his role in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, allegedly attacked four prison officers with makeshift weapons – including knives fashioned from cake tins – and boiling oil. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, assault, and possessing offensive weapons.
The incident sparked outrage among survivors and victims’ families, with Martin Hibbert, a bombing survivor left with life-altering injuries, describing it as a “catastrophic failure” to protect both staff and the public. The report seeks to understand how Abedi was able to orchestrate the planned ambush and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Central to the recommendations is a shift towards a system similar to that employed at ADX Florence,a US federal prison in Colorado frequently enough referred to as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies.” At ADX Florence, staff continuously evaluate inmates, rewarding positive behavior with privileges such as increased exercise time, access to radio and television. Conversely, negative behavior results in the removal of these privileges and restricted contact with other prisoners.
The report suggests implementing a similar system in the UK, allowing for privileges to be earned or revoked based on closely monitored behavioral standards within separation centers – specialized units designed to house high-risk offenders, particularly those convicted of terrorism. These centers, introduced in 2017 under the government of Theresa May, aim to isolate extremist offenders from the general prison population.
Questions have been raised regarding security protocols at HMP frankland, specifically why Abedi and other terror suspects were granted access to kitchen utensils. The review also assesses weather the current balance between security and long-term offender management is appropriate, and whether internal findings from the Abedi incident necessitate changes to the placement of extremist offenders within separation centers.
Andy Slaughter, the Labor chair of the House of Commons’ justice select committee, has publicly demanded the immediate publication of the report. “After waiting four months, prison officers, the public and parliament shoudl be able to see the recommendations…so we can make sure that similar attacks…never happen again,” he stated.
The report was submitted to the lord chancellor’s office in August, and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is now facing increasing pressure to release its findings. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice confirmed that the report is under thorough review and will be published, along with the government’s response, “in due course.” In the past ten weeks,the Ministry has announced the rollout of body armor for frontline officers and an expansion of Taser use,signaling a commitment to improving staff safety.
Abedi is scheduled to appear at th
Why: The report was commissioned following
