ANNUAL CONFERENCE: EASTBOURNE 2024

Reflecting on POA membership growth, plans to work with the incoming government, and our five year strategy.

This year, delegates from across the POA met in Eastbourne to formulate policy going forward. Once again, we had another positive conference, concentrating on the real issues with so many excellent contributions from experienced individuals – including first-time delegates. It also gave everyone an opportunity to network with each other. I believe the POA is in very safe hands, given the contributions made by its delegates.

GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

At the time of writing, the POA membership (full members) stands at 31,710, which is an increase of 1,700 members since end of last December. On top of that, we have around 3,800 retired members giving us over 35,000 in total. This is an increase of around 4,000 full members since 2017. In Northern Ireland, Scotland, secure hospitals, the private and public sectors, there have been increases. Pleasingly, not only are our membership numbers rising, but our density is roughly 87 per cent across the board. There is always room for improvement though, and the POA will strive for perfection not just increasing members, but improving the quality of our service to them.

GENERAL ELECTION 2024

Rishi Sunak suddenly called for a General Election in July. The POA is a broad church, and we are not affiliated with nor do we support any political party, but that does not mean we sit on the sidelines. Over the last 14 years, it is undeniable that the lives of POA members and their families have been affected. Whether it is through increased incidents, pay freezes or cuts, the housing and education crisis, NHS waiting lists, or an increase in foodbanks, every family of each member has been affected in some way. Regardless of who you vote for, it is important that everyone votes. By voting, you can increase the opportunity for real change. As an individual, I welcome the 'New Deal' for workers that Labour has put forward. If that is enacted in full, then it is a game-changer for working people, offering more rights at work than ever before. But of course, political parties have let people down before with broken pledges. It is up to the POA, no matter who is in government, to influence them on our policies set by our annual conference.

THE POA'S FIVE-YEAR PLAN

At this year's event, our strategic aims and objectives were accepted as conference policy, and we will pursue them with the government this summer. Our main aims and objectives are as follows.

• An increase in pay and improved terms and conditions for all POA members
• Campaign to break the link between state pension age and retirement age in our respective work places
• Improve staffing levels, training and professionalisation
• Reduce violence in our workplaces with clearer health and safety policies
• To campaign for a Royal Commission into prisons and the Criminal Justice System
• To restore a prison officer's right to strike, specifically those who currently do not have that right

Of course, the above list is not exhaustive but Conference 2024 recognised these will be the main issues going forward to further protect POA members.

Under our rules and constitution, it is accepted that the aims and objectives might not fit all countries where the POA have membership. For example, Scotland has its own parliament at Holyrood (with devolved responsibilities on justice) and indeed has its own conference to set their policies as well. This is also the case in the Isle of Man, where they have their own government. The same applies in Northern Ireland too, where there is a power share in Stormont. Wales has an Assembly, so is not devolved from Westminster but instead at the Welsh TUC (which took place in May 2024), where there was a composite motion from POA and PCS calling for a process change into criminal justice and other key areas. The POA NEC will respect the different pay, terms and conditions in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, and Scotland, and we also accept there may well be different campaigns on behalf of those members.

PRISON CRISIS AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY

There has been a lot of media attention on the overcrowding issue within prisons, and the POA has been very active across various media, such as television, radio, and newspapers. Our position is clear: we cannot stand by and watch our prison numbers increase beyond what is safe for order, control and security. That is why we made our position known to Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk. This was conducted at a meeting urgently convened, after our press release went out stating we might legally challenge any decision to breach operational capacity in the run up to the General Election. To his credit, the Lord Chancellor gave us assurances this would not happen, and he recognised our concerns. No matter the outcome of the GE, the prison crisis and the knock-on effect to the Criminal Justice System is not going away. We stand ready to work with any government, using our vast experience to shape the future of prison policy so that our members, and indeed those in our care, remain safe – yet at the same time, while protecting the general public and victims of crime.

These are challenging times, but tell me when there hasn’t been? Working together with our POA members, we will come through this tough period, and I look forward – along with National Chair Mark Fairhurst, NEC/FTOs, and the wider POA membership – to shaping our futures for the better.

STEVE GILLAN
GENERAL SECRETARY