A man aged in his 60s has been detained after a police officer was stabbed in the chest at a high-security prison.

The officer, who was attacked at HMP Frankland in Durham just after 11am on Tuesday, was now in a “stable” condition having suffered critical injuries, Durham Police said.

Detectives from the force were investigating the incident, which occurred during an interview with a remand prisoner.

The family of the officer, who is from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), had been made aware and were being supported by police colleagues.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Smiles from Durham Police said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with our colleague, who suffered appalling injuries while simply doing his job.

“Thankfully, his condition is no longer critical and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.”

A spokeswoman for GMP said earlier that an officer from its Major Incident Team had been stabbed by an inmate.

Land and air ambulance crews were called to the notorious jail and the officer was taken to hospital in a critical condition but was talking and conscious, Durham Police said.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on X, formerly Twitter: “Deeply concerning news from HMP Frankland today, where a police officer has been stabbed, though is conscious and talking in hospital.

“I am being kept up-to-date with all developments. And my thoughts are with that brave officer.”

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.

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.”