The National Tactical Response Group was scrambled to a record 794 prison emergencies in 2023 — more than double the 384 in 2021.

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The elite 55-strong NTRG deals with stabbings, mutinies and escape attempts as prisoners exploit jail staff shortages.

Last year’s call-outs included hostage-taking on the Isle of Wight and an inmate protesting on the roof of Manchester’s Strangeways.

A source said: “More incidents get escalated partly because there are fewer experienced staff to deal with situations that could be dangerous.”

The national squad is so secret the public barely knows about it.

Its hand-picked members wear flame-proof uniforms, stab-proof vests and carry pepper spray, smoke bombs and extendable batons.

They train for years to combat cons armed with improvised knives, guns and makeshift petrol bombs.

The Ministry of Justice said it had invested £100million in scanners and other prison security measures.

It insisted: “Violence is never tolerated.”

Justice Minister Edward Argar said: “NTRG is a highly trained team that provide expertise in technical interventions that would carry higher risk of failure or injury, and which require skills and equipment limited only to NTRG staff.”