ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025

Positivity was high among POA delegates in Eastbourne as they discussed topics around the theme of ‘Control not Chaos'

The POA Conference was held in May 2025, in Eastbourne, and again there was a positivity about it. The agenda was well structured and the key issues that came out of our conference was about control, not chaos. I would like to thank our hardworking support staff, full-time officers and our executive, along with the dedicated branch officials who attended and entered into constructive and healthy debate to formulate our policies going forward.

POA FINANCES AND MEMBERSHIP

The POA finance report was endorsed by our ruling body, which is annual conference. The finances are in a healthy position given the challenges that we continually face. We have a growing membership, which is very pleasing, and it’s down to the hard work of local committees that continue to recruit members into the POA. Of course, we all know challenges crop up from time to time that we might have to legally challenge to protect our membership. That is why it is important that we continue to grow our finances, to ensure we can afford those potential challenges when the need arises, to protect our members.

POA WELFARE FUND

The welfare fund is also in a very healthy position and we continue to assist our members in their time of need. It is essential that we invest money to continue to grow the welfare fund, so that our members are fully protected in their time of need. The welfare fund has been in existence for more than 20 years and has grown year on year. We should be proud of this fund, as it is financed by the members, for the members.

A PRISON MINISTER WITH A DIFFERENCE

‘Control not chaos’ was the theme of our 2025 conference. We heard from our keynote speaker, Lord Timpson, who in my opinion fully understands the challenges that POA members face in the workplace. He knows that the prison service is in crisis because of the unsustainable prison capacity. That is why the government has announced a strategy to deal with overcrowding. What has impressed me about Lord Timpson is his ability to listen to our grassroots branch officials. We held a breakfast meeting with him and a cross-section of branch officials, with national officials in attendance. He has a different style, whereby he is very engaging and willing to listen to and act on our concerns. When he visits a prison, he engages not just with local committees, but also with POA members in their respective workplaces. This is in direct contrast to previous Prisons Ministers. This is a man who I enjoy doing business with. He is a straight talker, and I like that – he says it as it is. We are not always going to agree on the direction of travel, but it is refreshing that he knows the importance of treating the workforce properly. I look forward to engaging with him more in the weeks and months ahead.

ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM AS GENERAL SECRETARY

It is a great honour that I now start my fourth term of office as General Secretary and I am grateful to the membership for once again placing their trust in me. There will be no taking my foot off the gas, as there is still an awful lot of work to be done to ensure the POA membership goes from strength to strength and that we get justice for all POA members in their respective workplaces. There will be many challenges over the next five years – challenges that our Executive will rise to so that our members and their families get the very best support from this growing trade union. I relish the prospect of challenges, and I can guarantee that we will continue to do the very best we can for the membership. If we can continue the positivity without any side issues, then our future will be bright. Our membership is in safe hands, with some very intelligent branch officials right across the United Kingdom. We have a trade union that we can be proud of, but we must always strive for continuous improvement.

STEVE GILLAN
GENERAL SECRETARY