Mabel Hempton Award for Bravery and HMP Frankland staff
Tabled 1 June 2026 by Mary Kelly Foy
That this House congratulates the prison officers and staff at HMP Frankland Catherine Herbert, Gary Speight, Sharon Irvine, Jade Burnett, Craig Thompson, Paul Crampton who received the Mabel Hempton Award for Bravery from the Prison Officers’ Association; notes that the award followed the horrific attack on staff at the Separation Centre at HMP Frankland in County Durham on 12 April 2025; recognises the extraordinary courage, professionalism and selflessness shown by those present during a sudden and life-threatening assault in which colleagues were seriously injured; believes that their actions prevented further serious harm and stand among the highest examples of public service within the prison service; further recognises the difficult, dangerous and often under-appreciated work undertaken every day by prison officers, operational support staff and other prison workers across the estate; pays tribute to the Prison Officers’ Association for honouring such bravery and sacrifice; and calls on the Government and HMPPS to ensure that the courage of prison staff is fully recognised, that lessons are learned from this incident, and that all necessary steps are taken to protect prison staff at work.