PRISONERS who attack staff should not be allowed to leave jail early, claims a district MP.
Philip Davies, whose Shipley constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme, says the move could help combat a rise in prison violence.
He is set to table an amendment to the Prisons and Courts Bill which would end the automatic early release of any inmate who attacks a prison officer.
Latest figures show that between October 2015 and September last year, there were 6,430 assaults on prison staff – an increase of 40 per cent on the previous year.
"That is completely and utterly unacceptable," said Mr Davies.
"I am sure the Prison Officers Association would welcome the Government saying that if a prisoner assaults an officer, their opportunity for automatic early release halfway through their sentence will end and their position will be judged on whether they are safe to be released out into the public."
He added: "Prison officers have a very hard and at times, dangerous, job.
"One reason for the breakdown of order in prisons is that prisoners know that no matter how badly they behave, they will be released part way through their sentence."
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