CIRC 022: NATIONAL CHAIR UPDATE MARCH 2025

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all POA members.

ACCT Checks

It has been brought to the attention of the NEC that some Governors (unsurprisingly) have misinterpreted Phil Copple Director General, directive to them in relation to random checks for staff conducting ACCT checks. Please be aware of the following clarity from Phil Copple and remind your Governors that they cannot use this directive as a weapon against staff:

• “There will sometimes be circumstances in which it is not possible for a member of staff to complete an ACCT observation within the time required, for instance where they have had to prioritise responding to an incident elsewhere.  Governors must do everything possible to deploy resources in a way that minimises the number of such occasions, but where this does happen the observation will need to be conducted as soon as possible afterwards and the reason for the delay documented.”
• “Staff can sometimes make errors in recording their actions on ACCT documents - for instance failing to note an observation that has been made, or getting the time slightly wrong so that it doesn't quite match the CCTV recording.  Please be assured that my note does not suggest that disciplinary action should be taken against staff in either of these scenarios.”
• “These scenarios are very different from one where an individual has deliberately recorded that observations have taken place when they have not.  This is a much more serious matter, because neglecting to conduct the observations represents a failure to deliver our duty of care to prisoners and documenting that they have taken place when they have not provides false assurance that an individual identified as being at risk of harming themselves is safe.”
• “It is not my intention that delays in observations during operational incidents, or honest mistakes in records, should result in disciplinary action against staff.”

Capacity Gold

HMPPS have formally re-opened Capacity Gold Command arrangements for all prison capacity issues in response to the challenges the Prison Estate is currently facing. Prison Group Director Helen Ryder has been appointed Capacity Gold Commander under these new arrangements. 

Capacity Gold Command will be focusing on:

• Ensuring that Prison Escort vans are turned around within the allotted times.
• Reducing unnecessary holds.
• Reviewing out of action cells and Cell Share Risk Assessments (CSRA).
• Increasing the occupancy of the open estate including the roll out of temporary presumptive re-categorisation Scheme (TPRS) 24. 
• Working with Prisons to deliver to operational capacity. 
• Maximising the use of home detention curfew and a timely roll out of HDC 365 days.

Temporary changes to HMPPS Leadership

Until further notice Amy Rees CEO has temporarily taken up position as Permanent Secretary for Justice, Phil Copple Director General temporarily covers the CEO position and Michelle Jarman-Howe is temporarily promoted to the Director General role.

Recent Government Announcement

After the recent Government announcement that 10,000 Civil Service jobs will be subject to a Voluntary Early Departure Scheme (VEDS), the finer details are still to be released. It is envisaged that frontline operational posts within HMPPS will not be subject to any further cuts and will not be part of this VEDS offer. 

HONORARY LIFE MEMBER ANDREW (ANDY) HOGG; FORMER SCOTTISH ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY

It is with immense sadness that I have to announce the passing of Andy Hogg who served the POA so very well for many years. His life and contribution to the POA were honoured at a service on 26^th March. Any POA member who wishes to donate to the charity of Andys choice may do so by accessing the Beatson Cancer Charity website.

 

All the best.

 

Mark Fairhurst
National Chair