An injured police officer is still in hospital after he was stabbed in the chest at a high-security County Durham prison yesterday.

The officer, who works for Greater Manchester Police, was at HMP Frankland yesterday (July 23) when he was stabbed by an inmate.

He was rushed to hospital in a "critical" condition but now remains stable as he continues to receive medical treatment.

A man in his 60s was detained following the incident as enquiries continue.

A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “The injured officer remains in hospital and continues to receive medical treatment.

“Thankfully, he has remained stable overnight and is no longer considered to be in a critical condition.

“Our officers are continuing to support the victim and the ongoing investigation into the incident is making good progress.”

HMP Frankland is a category A men’s prison, the highest level of security, and houses some of the country’s most serious criminals.

Inmates held at the jail include Damien Bendall, who is serving a whole life term for murdering his partner, Terri Harris, 35, her daughter, Lacey Bennett, 11, her son, John Paul Bennett, 13, and Lacey’s friend, Connie Gent, also 11, in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, in 2021.

The Sun reported in May that he had attacked another inmate at the prison with a claw hammer.

Other prisoners being held at the jail are thought to include Wayne Couzens, the then-serving police officer who kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, and Levi Bellfield, who killed Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, and tried to kill Kate Sheedy.

Double murderer and necrophiliac David Fuller appeared via video-link from the jail for his trial for sexually abusing bodies in 2022, while Soham murderer Ian Huntley is also said to be held there.

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Liberian war criminal Charles Taylor, who is serving a 50-year sentence, is another notorious Frankland resident.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Violence in prisons is not tolerated and our thoughts are with the brave police officer stabbed at HMP Frankland today.

“Improving the safety of our prisons is one of the Lord Chancellor’s top priorities and she is being kept up-to-date on the situation.”