CIRC 056: NATIONAL CHAIR UPDATE JUNE 2026

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

 

Military Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Claims – Deadline 31^st July 2026

The POA have been asked to bring to the attention of any members who have previously served in the Armed Forces that an important deadline is approaching in relation to military hearing loss and tinnitus compensation claims. A long-running legal action against the Ministry of Defence concerning Noise Induced Hearing Loss and tinnitus has reached a significant stage, and special arrangements are currently in place for claims registered before 31^st July 2026.

 

How to register a claim:

Members can begin the claims process through the union's normal channels by contacting Thompsons Personal Injury Helpline 0800 0 224 224. Given the approaching deadline, members who believe they may have been affected are strongly encouraged not to delay seeking advice.

 

DRONE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, announced he is investing an extra £35m to fund tougher physical barriers to prevent the conveyance of illicit items by drones in 17 of our most at-risk Prisons. As you will know, the conveyance of illicit items fuels violence, debt and disorder, endangers staff and prisoners, and prevents rehabilitation. Window grilles are a proven, physical measure we can use to stop deliveries into cells. This further funding will allow us to upgrade up to 13,000 cell windows across all 13 of our Long-Term High Security Estate (LTHSE) Prisons and four closed male sites by Spring 2027. The Prisons being prioritised for the deployment of these measures have been identified because of the scale of the challenge and the risk of the population they hold.

 

Supplementary Risk Allowance

The NEC are acutely aware of the ever-increasing threats to staff outside of their workplaces. We will continue to ask for a ‘Supplementary risk allowance’ so staff are able to increase their home security and the threat is acknowledged by the employer. In order to obtain as much evidence we possibly can to present to the Pay Review Body we need POA members to forward details of the threats they face from ex-convicts. This may include being recognised when outside of the workplace and either verbally or physically attacked, threats via social media channels or being followed home from work or receiving phone calls from unrecognised numbers. We need as many examples as possible. Please forward examples to: nicola@poauk.org.uk

 

Kings Honours LisT

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Ivor Dunne, Area Chair of the Northern Ireland Area Committee POA has been awarded the Order of the British Empire in the Kings Honours. Ivor receives this award for services to Criminal Justice and the Rehabilitation of Offenders in Northern Ireland.

  

HMPPS Surveys

All POA members are reminded that as per POA conference policy no POA member should participate in any HMPPS survey. The POA annual members survey will be published in due course and all members are encouraged to complete that survey.

 

Ask the Chair Podcast

POA members are encouraged to forward any questions they would like answered on the next Chair podcast to askthechair@poauk.org.uk

 

All the best.

 

Mark Fairhurst
National Chair