PR 279: PRISON OFFICERS’ LEADER CALLS FOR SUPERMAX PRISONS TO DEAL WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS PRISONERS

The National Chair of the Union representing the UKs 34,000 Prison Officers has condemned Government and the Ministry of Justice inaction over the crisis in the prison system as he opened the Prison Officers Association Conference in Eastbourne today.  

Mark Fairhurst, POA National Chair opened the Conference, the first since the terror attack at Frankland Prison that left 3 Prison Officers seriously injured and hospitalised.

He hit out at the conditions POA members  work in and called for new super max prisons for the most dangerous offenders.

“Prison violence is at a 10 year high, deaths in custody are up, self harm is up, violence is up and assaults on staff are up. We need action to address the crisis in our prisons.”

“The terror attack at Frankland Prison showed Prison Officers do not have the PPE required to keep us safe.”

“If tasers were available to deploy during the appalling attack on staff at Frankland then the outcome may not have been as bad.”

“If we continue to appease the most violent prisoners then I fear one of our members will end up being murdered.”

“For the most dangerous and violent prisoners we need supermax prisons where prisoners only receive the basic entitlements.”  

Mr Fairhurst also condemned the UK Government’s failure to repeal anti union legislation that impacts on Prison Officers and the continuation of privatised prison maintenance:

“Labour said they would bring in a new deal for all working people but the new deal for working people doesn’t apply to Prison Officers, we still do not have the most fundamental and basic human right - the right to strike.”   

“Labour also said they would bring in the biggest round of insourcing in a generation but not in the Prison estate where the disaster of privatisation will continue. 

“The POA will continue to campaign on these issues until we see real and lasting progress.”

 

ENDS

 

 

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POA Press Office                                                020 8803 0255 Option 7