Violent prisoners in one of the UK's highest security jails are to be consulted on the "unsettling" use of tasers behind bars, "to reassure them".

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered trials where specialist front-line officers in high security jails will be equipped with tasers after several violent attacks, including by dangerous terrorists.

The guidance for officers has been issued at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London, where inmates, including the Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi, who allegedly stabbed three prison officers with improvised knives, and Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer, who allegedly spilt boiling water over an officer.

The guidance has been criticised as it appears to appease prisoners and tilts towards being apologetic.

It involves explaining the roll-out of CEDs (Conducted Energy Devices) or tasers, who will be carrying the devices and how they will be used.

It continues: "Some prisoners may find this trial unsettling, especially those who have had experience of police use of tasers in the community.

"Please use the materials provided to help you talk to prisoners about this trial, answer their questions and provide reassurance."

One prison source stated: "It's almost apologetic in tone, stating that prisoners who may have been tasered by police in the past might find the news 'traumatic'."

Ms Mahmood has ordered the trials to go ahead

Former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson said the guidance appeared to be skewed towards prison welfare.

Mr Acheson in the past has advised the Government on extremism in jails and said he would have been more forthright in his guidance.

He stated: "We are introducing tasers due to completely unacceptable levels of violence against staff and between prisoners.

"Officers will not hesitate to use these devices in situations where their deployment is proportionate to the threat.

"There is a simple way to avoid being subject to this unpleasant and effective protective equipment. Do not start or get caught up in violence in this prison."

Under the trial, tasers are being issued to officers in elite tactical response units that deal with unrest and incidents inside prisons.

It will be the first time prison officers have carried tasers, which fire two small barbed darts and administer an electric shock, incapacitating someone without serious injury.

The groups also wear stab vests, armoured gloves and helmets, plus are well equipped with batons, shields, pepper spray and smoke bombs.

Officers in a demonstration with a prisoner (stock pic)

The trials follow a significant increase in violence among prisoners, with a 14 per cent rise in serious assaults on officers.

Ms Mahmood has commissioned Jonathan Hall, KC, to explore ways of segregating dangerous offenders such as Abedi or Rudakubana.

The Prison Officers' Association has called for terrorists and violent prisoners who assault officers to be held in American-style "supermax" units or separate jails.

They would only be allowed out of their cells for one hour a day, handcuffed and supervised by three officers.