CIRC 068: GENERAL SECRETARY UPDATE RELEASE IN ERROR

On 24th October 2025 a prisoner was released in error from HMP Chelmsford. The NEC determined that we would not do any media interviews until such times as we understood what had happened. We were inundated with requests from countless outlets including SKY, BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV along with newspapers and numerous radio stations over the weekend. The National Chair and I declined to do any as we wanted to speak to our member who we established was suspended on that day and to the local POA committee at Chelmsford so we could be better informed.

I am glad that we took that stance and did not dive in with misinformation and the fact that there is an investigation which commenced today. I personally spoke to our member involved on Saturday 25th October 2025 and he is being supported not just by the POA, but I also have to state the Governor and Deputy Governor of Chelmsford. 

I am grateful to Senior members of HMPPS for keeping the POA up to date as best they could without encroaching on the investigation that has commenced. Our priority is and will be to safeguard our member and not allow a trial by media or social media develop into a political witch hunt by any political party.

I visited our suspended member today 27th October 2025 and accompanied him to Chelmsford prison for his interview. He has been treated until now extremely fairly and what we discussed will remain private so as not to compromise any investigation. 

Irrespective of pressure being applied by the media or indeed social media platforms the POA will always dictate when we will do our media not react just to be in the media spotlight. We are now in a better position of knowledge and will commence this afternoon some media duties not impacting on the investigation.

Our thoughts will always be to have our members interests at heart and showing compassion and professionalism to the victims of crime. We will address the issues in the coming days and weeks in relation to the prison crisis, but we will not accept the media, politicians, or social media platforms scapegoating and making false and malicious allegations. Further it is totally unacceptable on some social media platforms to blame inexperienced staff, or our foreign national staff being badly trained for issues that are systemic and outside their control. It is a disgrace that some individuals choose to attack our members who are foreign nationals and new members of staff and the POA who are the only recognised trade union in the public sector Prison Service will stand shoulder to shoulder with them to defend their interests.

I will give further updates once the investigation is complete where I will be able to speak more freely. I hope the membership understand why the POA waited until an appropriate time to do media work on this issue. We will also fully participate in the Inquiry the Deputy Prime Minister is due to announce and give clear evidence on behalf of POA members.

 

Yours sincerely

STEVE GILLAN
General Secretary