News Room

As you are aware, in 1994 the right to strike for Prison Officers was removed by the then Tory Government via S127 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The right of Prison officers to withdraw their labour is a fundamental human right recognised by the United Nations and should be reinstated for all the UK’s Prison Officers according to the Prison Officers Union. 

The NEC have been made aware that there are increasing instances of fires due to Domestic Cooking and Refrigeration Facilities on Residential Units.

As you are aware, Joe Simpson passed away last year after a short illness. I previously informed you that as per his and his family’s wishes there was no funeral held, and it was Joe’s wish that he had a pure cremation.

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all POA members.

Please find attached NEC minutes for the 12^th February 2025 for your information.

For years the POA has been calling for urgent action to address overcrowding and understaffing in our prisons and long term action to address offending and reoffending rates but successive Ministers have ignored our calls.

The POA are not regulated to give pension advice or financial advice in relation to retirement planning. The POA are not insured or indemnified in relation to giving incorrect advice on pensions or retirement planning.  The POA do assist where a member has a complaint around the administration of their pension, and that assistance is usually limited to signposting to the MYCS ...

Please find attached NEC minutes for the 22^nd January 2025 for your information.

Labour should deliver on its promise to introduce the “biggest wave of insourcing in a generation” by bringing prisons maintenance contracts back “in house”, says the union representing the UK’s 32,000 Prison Officers and Operational Support Staff.