PR 275: PRISON OFFICERS’ UNION SECURES COMMITMENT TO EXTEND THE PROVISION OF PAVA SPRAY

Prison Officers’ Union Leaders have welcomed an announcement by Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood to extend the use of PAVA, an incapacitant pepper spray to a select number of staff at three youth detention centres in Werrington, Wetherby and Feltham. 

PAVA is available to Prison Officers working in the adult prison estate, but this change will see a select number of staff specially trained in its use. There will also be strict criteria applied to when it can be deployed.

The Prison Officers’ Association which represents staff working in Young Offender Institutions had lobbied for this change following increased levels of violence against their members. 

Statistics released by the Ministry of Justice this week showed that rates of assault in the youth estate are 14 times higher than in adult prisons.

Speaking after the announcement Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the POA said: 

“We welcome this announcement by the Ministry of Justice. Young Offenders Institutions can be a very challenging environment for our members to work in. Prison Officers must be given the right PPE to protect themselves and prisoners from violence. This is a step in the right direction.”

Mark Fairhurst Chair of the POA said:

“The POA has campaigned for this change on behalf of our members. We have made the case to the Government and I am pleased that the Justice Secretary has acted. We will continue to call for further improvements to ensure our members are safe and able to carry out their duties without being subjected to potentially life threatening assaults.”

 

ENDS

 

For further information, contact:

POA Press Office                                                  020 8803 0255 Option 7