News Room

A stark new report published today by the Prison Officers’ Association, the union representing Scotland’s 4000 front line Prison Staff, has laid bare the reality of working in the country’s overcrowded and understaffed prison estate.  “Crisis Point Reached - The Pressures Facing Scotland’s Prison Officers uncovered” draws on the experience and testimony of Prison Officers work ...

It is with great sadness we report to the membership the death of former Assistant General Secretary, John Sutcliffe, who passed away on Thursday 23 October 2025.

Commenting on the statement made by David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Justice, Steve Gillan General Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association said:

On 24th October 2025 a prisoner was released in error from HMP Chelmsford. The NEC determined that we would not do any media interviews until such times as we understood what had happened.

“The issues highlighted at HMP Leeds are a prime example of the crisis our members are having to cope with across the Prison Estate.

With it being just over 2 weeks until Scottish conference, I am just writing to gently remind everyone of the collection for the Trussell Trust foodbank event taking place again this year. 

Please find attached NEC minutes for the 24^th September 2025 for your information.

Please note the Women TUC Conference 2026 will be held at the Bournemouth International Centre from 4 – 6 March 2026 and not Congress House as stated in POA Circular 064/2025 dated 2 October 2025. Sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The POA are entitled to send 10 delegates to the Women’s TUC Conference which will be held at Congress House in London.

The POA has long warned, and has been on record stating, that the UK prison system is now in a state of permacrisis marking a significant failure of long-term policy, underinvestment, on short-term fixes that do little to solve structural issues.