CIRC 081: NATIONAL CHAIR UPDATE NOVEMBER 2025

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

 

Pay Submissions

Both written and oral Pay Submissions on behalf of the POA are now complete. The Prison Service Pay Review Body will now consider evidence from all parties and make their recommendations to the Government. We are hopeful that the Government will receive these recommendations early in 2026 in order for a timely award in April 2026.

 

Interim change to Grievance policy

Until a new Grievance Policy is devised HMPPS have agreed the following interim procedure. 

Any member of HMPPS staff who needs to raise a grievance relating to BHDV (Bullying-Harassment-Discrimination-Victimisation) can now do so either by submitting it to their manager in the usual way or by sending the GRV1 to  this mailbox: hmpps-interimgrievancereporting@justice.gov.uk, in order to have the GRV heard by an independent decision manager.    Details are available for all staff here (access is only available via work computer):

https://justiceuk.sharepoint.com/sites/HMPPSIntranet/SitePages/Rademaker-reforms--staff-complaints-process.aspx?web=1

 

68 is too late campaign

As part of our ongoing fight to lower the retirement age of Prison Officers it is essential that every POA member takes an active role in influencing Government decisions. The NEC are working tirelessly behind the scenes attempting to convince decision makers to lower the retirement age. If you want to assist and make a difference, then please follow the instructions below:

As part of 68 is too late can you please send the following via email to your local MP.

You can find your MPs email address here –

https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Email reads:

“As one of your constituents,  I would like to request that you support and sign Westminster Parliament EDM 2207 around Prison Officer retirement age.”

68 Is Too Late report by the Prison Officers' Association - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament 

Please note the POA report below.

https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/64630/68-is-too-late-report-by-the-prison-officers-association

 

Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy MP

I recently held a call with the Secretary of State for Justice (Deputy PM), David Lammy to discuss urgent issues affecting the POA membership, backing this up with a letter reinforcing what we discussed. The urgent issues included lowering the retirement age for Prison Officers, restoring our right to strike, speeding up the role out of Body Armour within the High Security Estate and reiterating our position of an exemption for our oversees colleagues who now no longer earn enough to have the right to work in the UK.

I can assure all POA members that we are fighting tirelessly to improve your working lives and keep you safe at work. These pressing issues will be reinforced at a face-to-face meeting with David Lammy in the coming weeks.

 

All the best.

 

Mark Fairhurst
National Chair