The intensified Israeli military operations in Gaza are an attempt by Netanyahu to project strength amid perceived political vulnerability, argues RAMZY BAROUD
Latest editorial
Error message
An error occurred while searching, try again later.We need a new deal for prison officers
MARK FAIRHURST highlights the main issues facing officers in a long neglected service, and raised by front-line delegates at POA conference last week, including understaffing, violence, bullying and the ongoing denial of workers’ right to strike
A bizarre on-air rant by Sebastian Gorka, Trump’s head of counter-terrorism, shines a light on the present state of transatlantic relations, says NICK WRIGHT
Head of education, campaigns and organising for the General Federation of Trade Unions HENRY FOWLER explains why it is launching a fund to support trades councils and give them access to a new range of courses and resources
While working people face austerity, arms companies enjoy massive government contracts, writes ARTHUR WEST, exposing how politicians exaggerate the Russian threat to justify spending on a sector that has the lowest employment multiplier
ANYA COOK reports from the Newcastle citizens’ assembly, where over 240 people gathered to create a people’s manifesto ahead of next year’s local elections – part of former mayor Jamie Driscoll’s Majority movement
While claiming to target fraud, Labour’s snooping Bill strips benefit recipients of privacy rights and presumption of innocence, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE, warning that algorithms with up to 25 per cent error rates could wrongfully investigate and harass millions of vulnerable people
Real security comes from having a secure base at home — Keir Starmer’s reckless and renegade decision to get Britain deeper into the proxy war against Russia is as dangerous as it is wasteful, writes SALLY SPIERS
THE real story of the chaos that reigns in Britain’s prisons did not come from the mouth of the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her statement last week on overcrowding and the government’s plans to build new prisons. No, the real story was to be heard from the officers on the front line of Britain’s prisons crisis at the Prison Officers Association conference in Eastbourne.
If politicians and the public at large want to properly understand what’s going on within the walls of the country’s jails they should have been beside the seaside on the south coast with the men and women who deal with offenders. They would have heard our members’ concerns about escalating violence against staff, soaring prisoner-on-prisoner attacks and record levels of self-harm.
They would have heard a long list of concerns about health and safety, staffing levels, the impact of drones, the smuggling of weapons and drugs into prison, the ludicrous retirement age for prison officers, inadequate pay, the denial of our right to strike, the need for a new deal for prison officers and much more. They would also have heard debate around the Rademaker report and its disturbing findings of a culture of bullying, victimisation and harassment by some senior managers against staff in our prisons and union members who raise issues with them.
Motion after motion came from prison officers on the front line, passionately calling on the government, HM Prison and Probation Service and senior managers and governors to listen to them. It was a demand for help from a proud profession and a reminder to the government and HMPPS that our union, despite the unjust removal of our basic human right to withdraw our labour, is united, vocal and ready to take the fight for improvements to the new Labour government.
Our members, often described by delegates last week as the forgotten service, carry out a fundamentally important role that society simply could not do without. They gave first-hand accounts of the harrowing, challenging and increasingly violent conditions they face every day at work, while being asked to do more for less and with fewer staff beside them.
The appalling terror attack that left four prison officers seriously injured at HMP Frankland was global news because of who the assailant was but serious assaults such as this are carried out all too frequently.
The Prison Officers Association has been warning government ministers about rising violence for years. Prisoners like the Manchester bomber should be held in super-max conditions where their ability to harm our members is completely removed. However, let’s be under no illusion, attacks and assaults on our members are happening every single day and to different levels but all are eroding the psychological and physical well-being of our members.
Our conference also laid out the problems with recruitment process, retention rates, prison conditions, the failure of privatised maintenance and the inappropriate placing of prisoners in open prisons designed to ease pressure on the general prison estate, only to add to it in the open estate.
Addressing delegates, Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson admitted that the system was in “crisis” tacitly endorsing the conference strapline “Control not Chaos.” But it’s actions, not words, we want from the Labour government — and make no mistake the jury composed of prison officers is very much out on this government.
On pay and terms and conditions, the scandalous retirement age that sees prison officers having to work until 68, low staffing levels, violence and the right to strike; the Labour government so far has not delivered for our members. This government talks of a new deal for workers — we welcome this, but we need a new deal for prison officers.
Our members have more expertise than any governor or senior manager. They have the pride, passion, commitment and empathy required to deliver a world-leading prison system. They have the solutions for improving and reforming our prisons, but they need to be listened to and heard and, importantly, our profession must be invested in.
Mark Fairhurst is national chair of the Prison Officers Association.
