PR 262: RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CRISIS IS PUTTING STAFF AND PRISONERS AT RISK UNION LEADER TELLS LORDS COMMITTEE

In a blistering evidence session to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee Mark Fairhurst, National Chair of the Prison Officers Association told the committee that a major crisis in recruitment and retention is destabilising prisons and endangering staff and prisoners. 

Mr Fairhurst also said that if left unaddressed it is only a matter of time before a drone is used to drop a firearm into a Prison. 

The POA was giving evidence to the Committee’s Inquiry into Prison Culture, Governance, Leadership and Staffing. The Inquiry sessions took place on the day that two highly critical inspectorate reports were published into Prisons in Manchester and Lang Lartin. 

Speaking after giving evidence Mr Fairhurst said,

“Today members of the committee were given a dose of reality about what life is like for our members day in day out in Prisons across the country. 

The lack of support provided to Prison Officers working in one of the most hostile working environments in Europe is truly shocking. We need urgent action and investment to address key issues such as prison violence, drone use, low pay, poor training, recruitment and retention and management culture.

The current crisis in the prison service is failing staff, failing prisoners and failing society.”

 

ENDS

 

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POA Press Office                                                020 8803 0255 Option 7