PRISON GUARDS GET TASER GUNS

Riot squad trial weapons as staff hurt 'every hour' amid record jail violence

- JOHN SIDDLE

GUARDS are set to be armed with tasers as violence hits record levels in our "lawless" prisons.

The 50,000-volt stun guns could be deployed after trials by jail riot squads.

Officers are now attacked more than 160 times every week in England's overcrowded and understaffed prisons around once every hour.

Jail assaults are up almost 80% since 2013, with 8,500 in the year to September - including 765 so serious staff needed hospital treatment. Assaults on staff are up 168% since 2013.