Union leaders addressed staff at Preston’s prison ahead of an expected announcement of job losses.
Cuts of up to 15 per cent across all sectors of staff at HMP Preston are expected to be announced today.
The Prison Officer’s Association (POA) held a demonstration outside the prison on Ribbleton Lane yesterday where some members held placards and chairman Jim Starkie warned the cuts could mean the safety of prisoners, staff and the public, would be put at risk.
Mr Starkie, chair of the POA’s Preston branch, said: “All prisons are being efficiency benchmarked and the average loss across the board is 15 per cent. Some are going to be more and some are less.”
Staff across the board, including prison officers, administration staff, and kitchen staff, are expected to be affected.
Mr Starkie said: “Jails are unique places and they have their own risks. We think the Government are playing a dangerous game here.
“Everyone is working for the safety of the public and it is making the risk a bit bigger.
“It is putting not just the officers at risk.
“This will affect the safety of prisoners and staff, and the public. It is wide ranging.”
Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), said: “We will never do anything to compromise the security and safety of prisons, but we are committed to reducing costs for the taxpayer.
“Where this means reducing staff numbers, we will work constructively with trade unions to do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies.”
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