News Room

“The issues highlighted at HMP Leeds are a prime example of the crisis our members are having to cope with across the Prison Estate.

With it being just over 2 weeks until Scottish conference, I am just writing to gently remind everyone of the collection for the Trussell Trust foodbank event taking place again this year. 

Please find attached NEC minutes for the 24^th September 2025 for your information.

Please note the Women TUC Conference 2026 will be held at the Bournemouth International Centre from 4 – 6 March 2026 and not Congress House as stated in POA Circular 064/2025 dated 2 October 2025. Sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The POA are entitled to send 10 delegates to the Women’s TUC Conference which will be held at Congress House in London.

The POA has long warned, and has been on record stating, that the UK prison system is now in a state of permacrisis marking a significant failure of long-term policy, underinvestment, on short-term fixes that do little to solve structural issues.

I have always thought that leading the POA as your National Chair has been the honour of my life.

Jackie Marshall NEC recalls women who stood together

The POA was proudly represented at the Black Workers’ Conference organised by the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

It was a pleasure to have a delegation of six people attend the TUC LGBT+ conference.