An MP has called for tougher sentences for people who smuggle drugs into prisons after an officer at HMP Elmley suffered "horrendous facial injuries" in an attack.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey representative Gordon Henderson told Parliament an officer who was assaulted on December 21 by someone thought to have taken Spice.

The psychoactive drug has similar effects to cannabis and can cause mood swings, anxiety, paranoia, tremors, seizures and fits.

Mr Henderson asked the Secretary of State for Justice, David Gauke, if sentences would increase for people taking drugs into prison.

He said: “A week before Christmas one of my local prison officers, Ashley Maclean, received horrendous facial injuries when he was violently attacked by a prisoner who was allegedly high on Spice.

“This was not an isolated incident. It happens every day of every week in one or other of our prisons.

“Much of that violent behaviour, as we have heard, is caused by drugs, so what steps are being taken to increase sentences for those found guilty of supplying drugs to inmates?”

In response, Mr Gauke reassured him prison officers are protected by a new law.

He said: “We are fully committed to addressing the significant increase we have seen in the number of assaults on our hard-working prison staff.

“The new Assaults on Emergency Workers Act 2018 increases the penalty for those who assault emergency workers, including prison officers, and I understand the police are continuing to investigate this particular incident.”

Mr Henderson also asked what progress the government had made on improving the safety of prison officers.

Mr Gauke replied: “We do not tolerate violence against our dedicated and hard-working prison officers.

“We are strengthening frontline officer numbers and rolling out the key worker scheme so we can improve prisoner-staff relationships and tackle the causes of violence.

“We are giving officers the tools they need, like body-worn cameras and PAVA spray, to respond where incidents occur.”

Speaking afterwards, Mr Henderson said: “He didn’t answer my question as to whether they’d be raising sentences for drugs being supplied to prisons but it’s something I’ll pursue.”

A prison service spokesman said: “We continue to provide support for Mr Maclean and we are doing all we can to make sure his attacker feels the full weight of the law.”

A 29-year-old man has been charged with one count of assault and is due to appear before Maidstone magistrates on Friday, March 15.