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Press releasesREF: PR/25/07 DATE: 8th May 2007 To: ALL POLITICAL PRESS RELEASE POA Welcomes the Decistion of John Reid to Resign as Home SecretaryThe recent announcement by the Home Secretary, Dr John Reid that he intends to resign as Home Secretary and return to the backbenches rather than serve in a Brown cabinet in June following the departure of Tony Blair has been welcomed by the leaders of the POA. Mr Reid short term of office has been extremely trying with the problems of the Home office and crisis in the Prison Service an ongoing thorn in his side and Government. These failing have been well documented in recent months and the ever increasing prison population has led to radical changes in the criminal justice system and the prospect of an early release scheme for prisoners likely. Colin Moses National Chairman of the POA said: “Mr Reid’s short term of office has been a complete disaster for the Prison Service and resulted in the worst industrial relations ever experienced. He is supporting a Prison Service management hell-bent on using courts to destroy the POA - a free and independent trade union of public sector workers”. Brian Caton, POA General Secretary also stated: “I have been appalled at the attitude of John Reid whilst in office. His refusal to meet the leaders of the POA in a formal setting is an insult to the professional men and women of the Prison Service. I can only hope that the new Home Secretary under a new leader of the labour Government will recognise and respect this trade union and enter into meaningful discussions to restore public confidence in a Prison Service which is in crisis”.
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