PR 271: CUTS TO THE PRISONS BUDGET WOULD POUR PETROL ON AN ALREADY BLAZING FIRE WARNS UNION LEADERS

Cuts to the UK's prisons budget would have the effect of pouring petrol on an already blazing fire Union Leaders have warned. 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will make her spring statement to the House of Commons tomorrow. She is expected to announce swingeing cuts of around 7% across Government departments. 

Unions have reacted with anger to Government briefings disability benefit cuts, public sector job losses and big reductions in departmental budgets.

Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the POA said: 

"The UKs Prison System is already in crisis with jails badly overcrowded and understaffed; we see violence increasing and the Prison Estate crumbling, all of which leads to frustration and rising tensions within the country's Prisons. Cutting Prison budgets further will be like pouring petrol on an already blazing fire." 

Mark Fairhurst, POA Chair added:  

"The Government must address the immediate crisis in our jails. We need investment to address the understaffing, overcrowding and Prison violence that is having such a negative impact on our members. Instead of cutting the Ministry of Justice budget the Chancellor should be raising revenue with a wealth tax on the hoarded assets of the most affluent. Such a tax would bring in a significant amount of money to improve our essential public services such as the Prison Service."

  

ENDS

 

For further information, contact:

POA Press Office                                                020 8803 0255 Option 7