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| Custody officer dies after attack at Blackfriars Crown Court | Custody officer dies after attack at Blackfriars Crown Court |
| (4 days later) | |
| A custody officer who was attacked outside a court in central London has died. | A custody officer who was attacked outside a court in central London has died. |
| Lorraine Barwell, 54, was assaulted on Monday as she escorted a prisoner from Blackfriars Crown Court to a van. | Lorraine Barwell, 54, was assaulted on Monday as she escorted a prisoner from Blackfriars Crown Court to a van. |
| Humphrey Burke, 22, appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault. | Humphrey Burke, 22, appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault. |
| The Ministry of Justice and Serco believe she is the first prison custody officer to be killed on duty. | |
| A post-mortem examination will take place later and officers from the homicide and major crime command are investigating the case, the Met Police said. | A post-mortem examination will take place later and officers from the homicide and major crime command are investigating the case, the Met Police said. |
| BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said there would be three investigations into the incident, carried out by the Ministry of Justice, the Met Police and Serco. | BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said there would be three investigations into the incident, carried out by the Ministry of Justice, the Met Police and Serco. |
| Ms Barwell was working with other Serco team members preparing to escort a prisoner to a van parked inside the courtyard. | |
| She was treated at the scene by London's Air Ambulance and had been in a critical condition in hospital since the attack. | She was treated at the scene by London's Air Ambulance and had been in a critical condition in hospital since the attack. |
| Justice Secretary Mr Gove said he was shocked to hear of her death. | Justice Secretary Mr Gove said he was shocked to hear of her death. |
| He added: "No words can express the devastating effect this will have on her family and friends and my deepest sympathies are with them at this difficult time. | He added: "No words can express the devastating effect this will have on her family and friends and my deepest sympathies are with them at this difficult time. |
| "Lorraine Barwell was a courageous and dedicated prisoner custody officer who delivered a vital public service for more than a decade." | "Lorraine Barwell was a courageous and dedicated prisoner custody officer who delivered a vital public service for more than a decade." |
| He said the Ministry of Justice would provide assistance to the police investigation. | He said the Ministry of Justice would provide assistance to the police investigation. |
| Analysis by Danny Shaw, Home Affairs Correspondent | Analysis by Danny Shaw, Home Affairs Correspondent |
| My understanding was that Lorraine Barwell's family agreed with doctors that she would not recover from her injuries so they switched off her life support system. | My understanding was that Lorraine Barwell's family agreed with doctors that she would not recover from her injuries so they switched off her life support system. |
| The one comfort for her family is that she was an organ donor so her organs will be used to benefit others. | The one comfort for her family is that she was an organ donor so her organs will be used to benefit others. |
| We have been looking back through the records and as far as we are aware there has been no reported incident of a custody officer working for Serco or any other private firm dying as a result of injuries sustained in their duties. | We have been looking back through the records and as far as we are aware there has been no reported incident of a custody officer working for Serco or any other private firm dying as a result of injuries sustained in their duties. |
| In terms of prison officers and custody staff in England and Wales the last recorded death was in 1991 - a skills instructor at Norwich prison, but of course there are incidents in Northern Ireland of prison officers who have died in the line of duty as well. | In terms of prison officers and custody staff in England and Wales the last recorded death was in 1991 - a skills instructor at Norwich prison, but of course there are incidents in Northern Ireland of prison officers who have died in the line of duty as well. |
| Reports of violence in prisons have been increasing and there have been some very serious incidents of staff in prisons being assaulted. | Reports of violence in prisons have been increasing and there have been some very serious incidents of staff in prisons being assaulted. |
| This was a fear prison officers had that one day they would get the call that one of their colleagues had died as a result of injuries sustained in duty. | This was a fear prison officers had that one day they would get the call that one of their colleagues had died as a result of injuries sustained in duty. |
| Serco group chief executive Rupert Soames said the company was "shocked and desperately sad" about Ms Barwell's death and there would be a major review into how the incident occurred. | Serco group chief executive Rupert Soames said the company was "shocked and desperately sad" about Ms Barwell's death and there would be a major review into how the incident occurred. |
| He said: "Lorraine has been with the company for over 10 years doing this and she was a consummate professional, really good at her job and much respected. | He said: "Lorraine has been with the company for over 10 years doing this and she was a consummate professional, really good at her job and much respected. |
| "There are very detailed procedures for handling people because on a daily basis we are handling murderers, rapists and people accused of vile crimes. | "There are very detailed procedures for handling people because on a daily basis we are handling murderers, rapists and people accused of vile crimes. |
| "This has all come as a huge shock to us, in part because it has has never happened before because our procedures and government's procedures have been proved very safe until now." | "This has all come as a huge shock to us, in part because it has has never happened before because our procedures and government's procedures have been proved very safe until now." |
| Ms Barwell was a grandmother and had two children. | Ms Barwell was a grandmother and had two children. |
| The POA, the Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers, said members were thinking of Ms Barwell's family and friends. | The POA, the Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers, said members were thinking of Ms Barwell's family and friends. |
| Glyn Travis, from the POA, said: "It's a sad day for the criminal justice system, the prison service, and of course the family. | Glyn Travis, from the POA, said: "It's a sad day for the criminal justice system, the prison service, and of course the family. |
| "This is not about public or private, this is about someone who is just doing their job. | "This is not about public or private, this is about someone who is just doing their job. |
| "No-one expects their mum, wife, sister or daughter to go to work and never come home." | "No-one expects their mum, wife, sister or daughter to go to work and never come home." |
| Escorting a prisoner | Escorting a prisoner |
| Source: Ministry of Justice | Source: Ministry of Justice |