The UK government has granted a temporary exemption to foreign nationals employed as prison officers from recently implemented visa regulations, following concerns about potential staffing shortages within the prison system.
UK prisons have become increasingly reliant on overseas recruits, particularly from countries such as Nigeria and Ghana.
However, organizations representing prison officers have voiced concerns that the increased minimum salary requirement for skilled worker visas could result in the loss of thousands of staff members.
The Ministry of Justice has stated that the exemption aims to “ensure jails can continue to run safely with the right level of experienced staff.”
The changes, introduced in July as part of a broader effort to reduce migration, require individuals to earn a minimum of £41,700 to qualify for a skilled worker visa, an increase from the previous threshold of £38,700.
The starting salary for prison officers typically falls below this amount, particularly outside of London.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) warned that the revised salary threshold could lead to the departure of over 2,500 overseas recruits, which it described as having “a catastrophic effect on prison stability.”
Earlier this year, Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, highlighted the significant dependence of many prisons on officers recruited from West Africa.
He expressed concerns that the non-renewal of visas for these officers would have a “devastating effect” on the prison system.
The exemption is applicable only to applicants already residing in the UK and is valid until the end of 2026. A lower salary threshold of £33,400 will be in effect until December 31, 2027.
The POA has welcomed the exemption, hailing it as a victory for “common sense.”
Steve Gillan, the trade union’s general secretary, commented: “It might not be perfect, but it will mean the prison service hopefully can remain stable.”
Mark Fairhurst, the association’s national chairman, added: “Our members can now go about their daily lives without the threat of removal from the country.”
According to The Times newspaper, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood initially resisted granting the exemption, advocating for a focus on recruiting British citizens.
Earlier this week, Justice Secretary David Lammy informed MPs that he was in discussions with Mahmood regarding the matter.
He emphasized his desire to recruit more prison officers locally but stressed that meeting the demand for prison places was “the most important thing.”
A Home Office source indicated that prisons were being treated differently due to their critical role in public safety and national security.
The source denied that Mahmood opposed the move but stated her preference for it to be temporary, with prisons prioritizing the hiring of British workers in the future.
A Ministry of Justice source acknowledged the strain on prisons and stated that the exemption would provide “breathing space” to develop a program for recruiting more officers from the UK.
A government spokesperson stated: “Net migration has already fallen by more than two-thirds under this government. We are clear numbers must fall further as we create a migration system that is controlled and fair.”
“However, public safety is the first duty of any government and we must ensure jails can continue to run safely with the right level of experienced staff. This is vital given the prison capacity crisis we inherited.”
Prisons have been authorized to sponsor visa applications for overseas recruits since 2023 due to a shortage of British applicants.
In April, government data revealed that over 700 Nigerians were recruited to work in UK prisons last year, with Nigerian nationals accounting for 29% of job applicants and 12% of staff hired at prisons in England and Wales.
This made Nigerians the most prevalent nationality, after Britons, among applicants and those offered jobs in UK prisons in 2024.
Following Nigerians, individuals from Ghana received 140 job offers.
The Prison Governors Association has suggested that the surge in applications from West Africa appears to be driven by word-of-mouth referrals and online job promotions within the expatriate Nigerian community.
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