REACTING TO THE NEWS THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING EMERGENCY PRISON SPACES IN CASE OF SUMMER RIOTS.

Mark Fairhurst Chair of the Prison Officers Association said:

"The Justice System lurches from crisis to crisis. The prison estate cannot cope with the existing prison population and now the Government has announced they can cope with unpredicted rises in the prison population without explaining where all the additional staff will come from.

Maybe, just maybe a better option would be to address the fundamental issues that fuel unrest, in some cases that is poverty and a sense of hopelessness and alienation and in others it is the lack of police on the streets and a failure to crack down on political groups who stir up civil unrest. 

But no matter what the cause is it is POA members who will be left to try and cope with the fallout of political failure. It is our members who will face overcrowded cells, soaring violence and a pressure cooker atmosphere that could go off at any time.

Where is the increased number of Prison Officers, to staff this going to come from? Where is the support for our members?

Where is the protection against assault?

The POA will be seeking an urgent meeting with Government Ministers to discuss these proposals." 

Ends

 

 

For further information, contact:

POA Press Office                                                  020 8803 0255 Option 7