Prisons ‘could collapse’ as more than 2,500 prison staff could face deportation | ITV News
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The prison service is already under strain after a number high-profile incidents and the significant increase in the number of mistaken releases, ITV News Political Correspondent Shehan Khan reports
Prison unions have warned the system “could collapse” as one in 25 prison service staff face deportation under new visa rules, ITV News can reveal.
Confidential government data seen by ITV News shows more than 2,600 prison staff are foreign nationals working on right-to-work visas.
Under Home Office rules introduced in July, anyone earning below the new £41,700 salary threshold risks deportation when their visa expires.
A source within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) said around 2,200 of those affected are prison officers, with the remaining 400 in support roles.
Starting salaries for prison officers range from £33,750 to £44,500 – with only those working the longest hours inside London on the higher end.
The prison service is already under strain after a number high-profile incidents and the significant increase in the number of mistaken releases.
There have also been repeated warnings of prisons being at full capacity, years of underfunding, and mounting operational pressure.
Prison staff with Justice Secretary David Lammy in HMP Belmarsh. Credit: PA
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), said the number of staff on right-to-work visas is “considerably higher” than first thought.
“We simply cannot afford to lose that many frontline staff and if the government does not exempt the prison service from the new salary thresholds many prisons will not be able to function and we will totally destabilise the prison estate,” Mr Fairhurst said.
The Prison Governors’ Association (PGA) warned that the loss of these staff would “leave a gap that cannot easily be filled” and that governors cannot run “safe stable prisons without the right number of officers”.
“The group of prison officers affected by recent visa rule changes are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they are becoming a core part of our workforce, bringing vital experience and stability to our prisons,” a PGA spokesperson said.
“Forcing these officers out in large numbers would be a serious blow. Their departure will leave a gap that cannot be easily filled – and lack of experience is already a key factor in why conditions in some prisons are falling short.
“It would be short-sighted and damaging for the government to allow this situation to unfold. We need solutions that protect the frontline, not policies that weaken it.”
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In response to this story, a Government spokesperson told ITV News:
“Working in prison is an extraordinary job and we are always looking for people who want to help keep the public safe to join.
“We are clear that net migration as a whole must come down after quadrupling in recent years as we replace Britain’s failed immigration system with one that is controlled, selective and fair.
“We will of course provide support to those who are affected by these changes, and anyone with a Skilled Worker visa can be considered for an extension.”
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