A GOVERNMENT crackdown on violence in prisons was triggered by the case of a notorious killer, it has been claimed.

At the weekend, the Ministry of Justice said inmates who assault prison officers would be prosecuted unless there was a good reason not to.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) says this was down to its successful judicial review of the decision not to charge Kevan Thakrar for allegedly throwing excrement over a female officer.

Thakrar was serving 35 years for three drug-related murders when he attacked three officers at Frankland Prison, near Durham, in March 2010.

He was cleared of all charges after claiming he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The latest allegation arises from his time in Strangeways prison, Manchester.

The POA says serious assaults on prison officers have risen by 37 per cent in 12 months.

It called on the Government to back its “warm words” with “real action”.

General Secretary Steve Gillan said: “Instead of warm words we call on the Government to introduce a minimum custodial tariff for all prisoners who assault staff or other prisoners if our prisons are ever to return to a safe, secure and decent workplace.”

Prisons minister, Andrew Selous, said violence in prisons was not tolerated and assaults on officers were unacceptable.

“We have always had a complex and challenging prison population but are taking appropriate steps to ensure that we carefully manage the increased levels of violence,” he added.