The Justice Committee has launched a new inquiry to investigate
workforce pressures in the prison system.
The number of staff working in the key officer roles in the
prison system has fallen significantly in recent years. In the
last 12 months, there has been a fall of 600 staff in prison
officer and custodial manager roles. The Prison and Probation
Service has introduced initiatives to improve support for new
employees and aid development. However, despite these efforts and
improved pay the numbers leaving the service are increasing. Days
lost through sickness have also risen significantly in the last
five years.
The Justice Committee’s inquiry will examine why staff are
leaving the prison service and the impact this has on the ability
to provide a safe and effective prison regime. It will examine
the impact of measures to improve pay, conditions and support for
prison staff and ask what more can be done to improve recruitment
and retention.
Chair's comments
Launching the inquiry, Chair of the Justice Committee Sir said:
“Understaffing in the prison system has serious consequences for
prisoners and prison officers alike. Without sufficient staff
their safety is at risk. It also limits the ability to provide
the vital services that support the physical and mental health of
inmates, and prepares them for release.
We have launched this inquiry to understand what can be done to
reverse the exodus of staff from the prison service. It will look
at why so many are seeking employment opportunities elsewhere and
what measures can be put in place to encourage them to stay. It
will also examine the impact of recently implemented initiatives
designed to increase support for prison officers and operational
support grade staff.”
Terms of reference
The Justice Committee invites interested groups and individuals
to provide written submissions of up to 1,500 words to inform
their work. Submissions should address some or all of the
questions set out below. The deadline for submissions is Friday 6
January.
Submit evidence here.
The Committee invites evidence on:
- Why staff, particularly at the operational support grade
(OSG) and prison officer grades, are leaving the prison
service?
- What implications difficulties in recruiting and retaining
OSGs and prison officers have on the ability to provide effective
regimes for prisoners?
- Whether projected staffing levels are sufficient to deal with
the forecast prison population in the coming years?
- What is required to improve recruitment levels, both in terms
of the number and quality of candidates?
- How effective is HMPPS at retaining OSGs and prison officers,
and what more could it do to improve job satisfaction and staff
morale?
- What is required to improve diversity and inclusion in the
prison workforce?
- How effective is the initial training, professional
supervision, and continuous professional development provided to
prison staff?
- Whether prison officers have the tools and support they need
to carry out their roles effectively?
- What lessons can public sector prisons learn from those run
by the private sector, and vice versa; and what lessons can be
learnt from other countries?
- What progress has the Government made on the commitments made
in the Prisons Strategy White Paper in respect of the operational
workforce?
