Skip to main content
Prison officers to face tighter restrictions on incapacitant spray after legal challenge by disabled inmate

PRISON officers will face tighter restrictions on using incapacitating spray, after a disabled inmate took the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to court over the chemical restraint substance.

The move has been welcomed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which funded the challenge, but the Prisoner Officers’ Association (POA) said it was concerned staff safety could be compromised by the decision.

Former prisons minister Rory Stewart announced last October that so-called Pava incapacitant spray would be rolled out to officers across adult male prisons.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
SMILING ASSASSINS: Contra rebels in Nicaragua
Extract / 21 January 2020
21 January 2020
Investigative journalist PHIL MILLER'S new book exposes the activities of Keenie Meenie Services, a powerful and secretive mercenary company which, from Sri Lanka to Nicaragua, has been involved in war crimes around the world.
Captain Dean Sprouting
Britain / 10 October 2019
10 October 2019
US soldiers' 'entirely improper' driving of forklift truck crushed Captain Dean Sprouting
A US airman secures a fuel line on the flightline at Royal A
Britain / 26 September 2019
26 September 2019
Similar stories
A prison officer in a prison
Workers' Rights / 3 May 2025
3 May 2025

Working in a high-risk sector, prison officers’ calls for proper PPE must be heeded – and the POA will be fighting to ensure effective protection at work is delivered, writes MARK FAIRHURST

A general view of a Prison
Britain / 25 April 2025
25 April 2025
A general view of a prison
Britain / 7 February 2025
7 February 2025