Blackfriars Crown Court in the City of London. Image: Google Street View

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating the serious assault of a Serco woman prisoner custody officer who is in a critical condition in hospital.

The attack took place at Blackfriars Crown Court.

A 22 year old male prisoner has been arrested for attempted murder.

Police were called to the court in Pocock Street, Southwark at 1.35 pm.

Blackfriars Crown Court, Pocock Street in Southwark. Image: Google Satellite.

The Serco prisoner custody officer is believed to be in her 50s.

She was assaulted as she escorted the prisoner between the court and a waiting van which was parked inside the court yard.

London’s Air Ambulance attended and the victim was treated at the scene before being taken to an east London hospital.

The Met Police say ‘she remains there in a critical condition.’

Next of kin have been informed.

The arrested 22 year old prisoner is in custody at a south London police station.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call the incident room based at Sutton on 020 8721 4054 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Female #Serco security guard seriously assaulted by prisoner news.met.police.uk/news/serco-gua… http://t.co/TuSmNSwRuZ

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Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 29, 2015

Female security guard critical in hospital after being assaulted in court: bit.ly/1LExhdA http://t.co/ZdCT6gYewE

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Press Association (@PA) June 29, 2015

Updates 1st and 2nd July 2015

Law student chuckles as he appears in court over 'possibly fatal' attack on custody officer, courtnewsuk.co.uk/newsgallery/?p…

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  (@CourtNewsUK) July 01, 2015

The Met Police have announced that Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command have charged a man after a Serco prisoner custody officer was assaulted at Blackfriars Crown Court.

22 year old Humphrey Burke of no fixed abode was charged on Tuesday, 30th June with section 18 GBH and appeared in custody at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 1st July.

The victim, a woman believed aged in her 50s, remains in a critical condition at an east London hospital.