CIRC 025: NATIONAL CHAIR UPDATE APRIL 2025

Pay Award

The Prison Service Pay Review Body has confirmed it has submitted its 2025 report on Public Sector Prisons in  England and Wales to the Government. We now await the date for publication from Government.

POA Scotland

Congratulations to John Devine and Karen Ewen on their re-election to the Scottish National Committee. Pay talks with the Scottish Government continue with an offer of a 3 year pay deal restricted to 3% per year.

Northern Ireland Area Committee

A series of meetings have been arranged over the coming months to cover pay negotiations. The prison population continues to rise in Northern Ireland and the first cohort of new recruits has just commenced their initial training.

Expenses: self-certification limit lowers to £150

All POA members working in Public Sector Prisons in England and Wales should note that from 2^nd May (5pm), the self-certification limit for non-taxable expenses is being lowered from £500 to £150. This means when you submit claims over £150 the claims will be directed to your line manager for approval. Claims up to £150 will continue to be self-certified. 

Removal of Razors from Prisons

HMPPS have confirmed that they have been allocated funding to continue the rollout of electric shavers in the adult male closed estate this year in Public Sector Prisons in England and Wales. The NEC continue to press for the removal of razors within the female estate and the private sector. 

HMPPS national uniform project

A small number of staff across six dedicated Prisons are currently testing the new Prison uniform samples as part of the latest stage in the uniform procurement process. The six suppliers selected to manufacture the HMPPS uniforms samples to the required specifications have distributed them to HMPs Featherstone, Drake Hall, Birmingham, Foston Hall, Standford Hill and Deerbolt. The trial began on Monday 24^th March and will last for 8 weeks.

The items being trialled include a white utility top, black utility trousers and boots or shoes (depending on the preference of the volunteer).

YCS uniforms are set to become standardised from early October 2025. Following YCS staff engagement and feedback, the existing-coloured polo’s will change to a standardised navy-blue. The change to uniform will be implemented from the 1^st October 2025 onwards. Staff will be able to order the following new items from the Cooneen uniform portal:

• Navy polo shirts
• Navy softshell and windproof jackets

Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS)

In a major victory for Public Sector Trade Unions the Government have confirmed the following:

“As you are aware, the Cabinet Office has been consulting you on a set of proposed reforms to the CSCS since 2017. However, I am now able to confirm that the Government has taken the decision to end the current consultation. As a result, the scheme terms as set out in 2010 will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. There are no current plans to begin a new consultation or to reform the CSCS. “

Update from Shabana Mahmood Justice Secretary of State

Review into Protective Body Armour (PBA)

In light of the incident at HMP Frankland and the overall threat of violence, I have commissioned a review to establish whether it is necessary for prison officers to wear PBA, either routinely or when working in high-risk environments within the prison estate. Protective Body Armour can currently be used in limited circumstances, including in segregation or specialist areas where individual risks cannot otherwise be managed.

The last risk-based review of PBA was carried out in 2016 and concluded that the evidence did not support the need to issue this type of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for routine day-to-day wear. 

The review will look at:

• Risk assessments and safe operating procedures for prison officer roles across a representative range of operating environments.  
• Consideration of the data and evidence available on serious assaults against staff in the past 5 years. 
• Past work that has been conducted to explore whether the wearing of PBA is necessary in some or all prison environments.  
• An assessment of the potential benefits and drawbacks to introducing protective body armour either across the entire prison estate or in discreet specialised units / prison functions. 
• The different types of PBA that should be tested and considered.  
• Whether domestic and international counterparts use protective body and/or other PPE equipment and the effectiveness of that. 

The review will begin next week and include engagement with the POA. I expect to have recommendations by the summer.

Independent review update

The Lord Chancellor has commissioned an independent review into the incident. While the lead investigator is still to be decided, the review will provide an independent perspective into the circumstances leading up to the attack and will also look into the purpose of separation centres. 

HMPPS internal investigation, conducted by PGD Matt Spencer continues alongside the Directorate of Security’s review into the use of kitchens in separation centres. Police investigations are also ongoing and these will of course take primacy.

HMP Frankland attack

The abhorrent attack on our colleagues at HMP Frankland has shocked the entire membership. I am sure you will join me in supporting all our colleagues at Frankland and in forwarding your best wishes and messages of solidarity to our injured colleagues. If you wish to forward a message, please do so by emailing me direct. We plan to collate all messages and deliver them in a booklet to our injured colleagues. Email here: mark.fairhurst@poauk.org.uk

Self-cook facilities have been ‘suspended’ in Separation Centres and Close Supervision Centres. The POA will vehemently oppose any suggestion that there is any return of self-cook facilities to these cohorts. In other areas where self-cook facilities are available staff must be vigilant to the threat they pose and if there are any concerns at all please liaise with your local POA committee.

We are in discussions to issue without delay stab proof vests to staff working within the high security estate. That is a priority at the moment. It is POA policy for stab proof vests to be issued to all operational staff and we will pursue this with vigour. We have also demanded that Taser is a tactical option locally.

PAVA in YCS estate

The Government have announced the roll out of PAVA incapacitant spray within the Juvenile YCS Estate. This is a major victory for the POA after years of prolonged and vigorous campaigning to protect our members within our Youth Prisons.

 

All the best.

Mark Fairhurst
National Chair