Robert Jenrick has accused David Lammy of allowing a “loophole” system that allows violent prisoners to play video games and eat sweets.

The Shadow Justice Secretary pointed to Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, who he said officers were “forced” to bring treats such as Haribo sweets and Diet Coke.

Mr Jenrick pointed to the “prison incentives framework”, which rewards prisoners who behave well with perks.

He said: “That’s fine, but it shouldn’t apply to murderers, rapists and violent criminals. “

Mr Jenrick: “But there is a massive loophole, if you attack a prison officer, you’re meant to be deprived of all your perks.

“But if you claim you’re at risk of self harm, you can and do often get them right back.”

He called on his Government equivalent David Lammy to change the rules “today.”

GB News has contacted the Ministry of Justice for a comment.

Figures released in July found nearly one in five adult prisons in England and Wales have had serious concerns raised about their performance, the highest number since the current system of inspections began.

Some 22 jails, 18.5 per cent of the total, were given the lowest possible ranking in the year to March, up from 15 in the previous 12 months.

A further 37 prisons were assessed as being of concern, up from 35. These are the highest number of jails to be placed in these categories since the present system of ranking was introduced in 2017/18.

The statistics, which have been released by the Ministry of Justice, note the rise “may be a reflection of the pressures facing the prison estate,” as ministers continue to grapple with overcrowding, violence and drugs in jails.

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Figures show assaults on prison staff in adult prisons in England and Wales have reached another annual record high, with 10,568 in 2024/25.

This is up seven per cent from 9,847 in 2023/24 and a jump of 42 per cent from 7,471 in 2022/23.

On Monday, a trial of tasers in prisons used by specialist officers began as part of efforts to curb the levels of violence against prison officers.

It follows high-profile security incidents earlier this year, after four prison officers were allegedly attacked with hot oil and homemade weapons by Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi at HMP Frankland in April.

Latest figures also show self-harm incidents hit another record level, with 77,898 incidents across all adult prisons in the year to March, a six per cent rise from 73,804 the previous year.

Some 12,661 men were reported to have self harmed in the 12-month period, the highest number since current records began five years ago.

The number of women who self harmed was 1,163.

This is down slightly from 1,199 in the previous 12-month period.

Director of charity Inquest, Deborah Coles, said: “These figures are yet another devastating indictment of the appalling state of the prison system, and the destructive social harms prison regimes generate for people inside.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This Government inherited a prison system in crisis, and this data shows the pressure they are under as a result.

“We’re building 14,000 extra prison places, with 2,400 already delivered.

“We are reforming sentencing to ensure we never run out of space again, and prisons get back to creating better citizens, not better criminals.”