May 2008 The POA Members’ Magazine

The Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers

THE ACCUSEDGuilty of the removal of £4million from POA members’ pockets

Charged with broken promises on Trade Union Rights and ignoring that the privatisation of prisons is morally repugnant

01 cover.indd 2 21/4/08 11:13:14

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Introduction

What’s inside…

3May 2008

Contents

Dear Reader,Welcome to the May issue of Gatelodge, an edition produced to ensure Branch News is published so that the membership are aware of key issues.

This month will be a turning point in the recent history of the Union. We will see the demise of the Joint Industrial Relations Procedural Agreement (JIRPA) on the 8th May 2008 (good riddance). Therefore, what will the Prison Service and Government do? Should this Union take any form of Industrial Action in the months ahead?

I have no doubt they will resort to the use of the Courts and Jack Straw and New Labour will use the old Section 127 to attack this Union and its membership.

Following the recommendations of the Pay Review Body the majority of POA members will have received a pay award for 2008 – if it was a pay award in real terms. However, a number of staff will still be playing catch up following the debacle of the 2007 pay recommendations and subsequent award. Continuing on the theme of pay, pay modernisation is high on the Governments and Prison Service Agenda, with the promise of new money for 2009 being made available should a deal be done. In my view we need to see what’s on offer and establish what’s really in the envelope, because history tells us the envelope is empty and we have to rob Peter to pay Paul.

The rising prison population, staff shortfalls and the reliance on staff working more hours is still an everyday problem, that is not being addressed by Government or the Prison Service. If we, as a Union, are to make people aware of the real problems that you all face we must work together, meet our MPs and make the local media aware of the issues you face everyday.

Jack Straw is to address our Conference in May and I look forward to hearing what he has to say. False promises and pledges mean nothing. He and the Labour Government have to support those who work in the Criminal Justice System by rewarding them all with a fair days pay for a fair days work. The simple reality is that if by working for the Service people cannot afford to live, then they leave or not join at all.

I ask you to read the contents of this issue and digest what the leaders of the POA are saying so that you can support your Union as we move forward.

I would like to thank all of the staff at POA Offi ces for their efforts in ensuring that the preparation for the Annual Conference was both timely and professional, especially Angela and Brian who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

Finally, a big thank you to Carol for ensuring that this issue of Gatelodge was produced on time and in such a professional manner, considering the short timescale and volume of work that was being done for the Annual Conference. As always, I look forward to your views and comments, good or bad.

Best Wishes,

Editor’s Comments

Justice Forum Conference 10th April 2008

Glyn TravisEditor

● National Chairman 4● General Secretary 6● Valley Parade 7● LLW 8● Branch News 12● Levy & McRae 26● North of the Border 27● ULF 31● Postbag 32

Gatelodge is published every other month by the Prison Offi cers Association. It is circulated free to all members of the Association and is available on general subscription. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the National Executive Committee. The Association does not accept responsibility for any statements made or opinions expressed in any of the articles, papers, correspondence or reports published in the magazine.

Subscription Rates: Non-members £15.00 Overseas £20.00

Editor: Glyn Travis

Editorial Board: Colin Moses, Glyn Travis, Steve Gillan

Editorial Offi ce: POA HQ, Cronin House, 245 Church Street, London N9 9HWTel: 0208 803 0255 Fax: 0208 803 1761Email: Gatelodge@poauk.org.uk

Editorial: Contributors to the magazine are requested to send material for the August issue by 14th July 2008.

AdvertisingBusiness Development ManagerJuliet Goss 01778 391067e-mail: julietg@warnersgroup.co.uk

Production Co-ordinator Sue Woodgates 01778 392062e-mail: suewoodgates@warnersgroup.co.uk

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PublishingPublishers & Printers Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH. Tel: 01778 393313 Fax: 01778 394748

Development PublisherSimon Moody

Editorial DesignViv Lane

Zero Tolerance!

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National Chairman

Zero tolerance

4 Gatelodge

The recent announcement by the Rt. Hon. Jack Straw that the Prison Service was to take up our call for ‘Zero Tolerance’ is welcomed. Violence and drug abuse is the scourge of our modern society.

Politicians of all parties fail to address the appropriate use of prisons as a deterrent to crime. It is left to Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice, and the most senior judge in England to issue warnings of the erosion that early release is causing to the Criminal Justice System. ‘16,000 prisoners have been released early from jail since last June’. Lord Phillips has called for a new structure that will make it easier for the public to understand how long inmates are likely to spend in jail.

Lord Phillips is quoted as saying: “I think it is still difficult for the public to understand sentencing as a whole.” He continued, “I think it would be very much better if one had a clear sentencing structure, where if you imposed a sentence you could see how long that individual might spend in prison and when they would be eligible for parole.”

The Lord Chief Justice went on to say that he does not favour fixed sentences, where inmates would find out in advance how long they had to serve behind bars. There has to be flexibility to give a prisoner the incentive for good behaviour and to allow parole.

The theme of our 2008 Annual Conference, to be held in Portsmouth, will be ‘Zero Tolerance’. The POA has campaigned for Zero Tolerance in prisons for many years.

The crisis we now see in sentencing can be clearly laid at the door of New Labour, with their misguided belief that new prisons should only be built and run in the private sector.

This has caused an ever increasing crisis in the public sector Prison Service, so leading to the judiciary being unable to carry forward and protect the public in a correct fashion. The levels of early release seen since June 2007 are due to years of under-investment by New Labour, in our overcrowded prisons. Whilst the rhetoric line coming from both New Labour and the Tories is one to be tougher on crime, the reality is we have a sentencing policy that is so convoluted that we find we have the Lord Chief Justice having to speak out. The Government should abandon its current plans of budgetary cuts inside public sector prisons. Invest correctly in both staff and fabric so that we can carry out our core task to protect the public and address inmates re-offending.

Whilst the Ministry of Justice continues to spend what seems to be the majority of its time attacking this trade union through the Courts and Parliaments legislative systems, the public are suffering.

We should have ‘Zero Tolerance’ to crime, not what we are seeing; a sentencing policy geared to the economics that say we want to imprison more, but only if it is on the cheap and totally ignore the sentences issued by free and independent judiciary. Prison staff should not just be used as door keepers to the criminal fraternity which knows that the sentences issued to them by the Courts will in no way reflect the sentences they will serve. We should see a clearly defined new structure on sentencing as recommended by the Lord Chief Justice.

Prisons must be correctly resourced and not be at the end of the treasury food chain.

Until we see correctly resourced prisons we will see a continuation of the revolving door sentencing policy that endangers the public and leaves prisons to be the butt of the media who believe that we cannot address offending behaviour. The current

policy being enacted by the Government is that prisons are no more than short stay holding areas. Politicians of all parties should be brave enough to clearly set out what they want from our prison system so that all parties, the judiciary, the public, the offender and – most importantly – staff know what they are expected to deliver. If ‘Zero Tolerance’ is to mean anything, we must remove the ‘smoke and mirrors’ attitude to sentencing.

Colin MosesNational Chairman

Colin Moses Branch visits: Since the April magazine I have visited Barlinnie Prison, held an NEC at Castell House in Northern Ireland and met Ed Sweeney reference TUDDRA.

I have met with John Hendy QC and LLW along with members of the Executive reference our campaign for Trade Union Rights. There is a special Whitley arranged for Monday 21st April 2008 in respect of Industrial Relations and The Right Honourable David Hanson MP, Minister of State is visiting Cronin House on Tuesday 22nd April 2008.

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National Chairman

What will the rest of 2008 bring?

5May 2008

On the 8th May 2008 the JIRPA will cease to exist and we will be without any industrial relations agreement or, in reality, a NO STRIKE AGREEMENT.

Is this a bad thing?The Government obviously believe it is because they have reintroduced legislation to penalise members of the POA should they partake in any form of industrial action.

This ‘anti-trade union’ legislation first introduced by the Tories in 1994 – as part of their strategy to try and smash this Union – failed and New Labour’s legislation will fail also. It is important to assess how and what Jack Straw evaluates as industrial action.

Below is a response from Jack Straw to Lord Graham of Edmonton, who has

been supporting the POA in an attempt to amend the legislation:

“The current wording prohibits the inducement of ‘any action likely to affect the normal working of a prison’ and would prohibit the inducement of industrial action short of strike action, including ‘working to rule’. To allay concerns raised by you and others, this applies only to prison officers and prison governors.

We cannot be certain that the definition proposed in your amendment would give protection from ‘work to rule’ action which might take the form of a controlled unlock of prisoners, a ‘go slow’ on a escorting into prisons, staff entering the gates and drawing their keys at the same time at the start of a shift, or the withdrawal of good will on ‘time off in lieu’ arrangements. As Lord Hunt stated in the debate on 10th March,

The POA is, in my opinion, facing the most challenging times in its history, and you may ask why?

such action could result in curtailment of regimes and limit the provision of specialist care for prisoners, as well as undermine the operation of the criminal justice system. This could have serious and possibly dangerous consequences”.

I do not think it is a bad thing for this Union to be rid of the JIRPA if we, as workers, decide to take any form of action up to, and including, strike action. It will be as a direct result of the actions of Government and/or the employer and as a last resort.

We will comply with TULCRA, for example, by holding a ballot before action is taken in accordance with Section 226, and if the Government chooses not to respect our rights and use the courts to attack us, using any reserved powers, so be it. If the Government ignore ILO rulings that is a matter for them, but we will not and must not take this lying down!

So what will the rest of 2008 bring to you?• Workforce modernisation,• A new multi pay year deal,• Threats of court action,• Changes to your terms and conditions,• Another staged pay award,• More assaults against staff,• Bigger prisons,• Less staff,• More prisoners,• Inappropriate prisoners in less

secure prisons,These are some of the real issues you

face and we will deal with these one by one and manage the affairs of the union to ensure we achieve the best possible outcome for everyone. To achieve this aim we must stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, united as one.

What will continue is our campaign to restore our trade union rights, a fundamental right of every worker and member of a trade union. This may take time but considering our fight started in 1994 time should not matter, just the end result.

Colin MosesNational Chairman

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General Secretary

Justice Forum Conference 10th April 2008

6 Gatelodge

Blame culture, resources and impact upon service delivery in the Justice system.

On Wednesday 10th April 2008 I was privileged on behalf of the POA to speak at the Justice Forum Conference along with other justice trade unions, the police federation and experts and academics in the field of criminal justice. I would wish to thank the justice forum on behalf of all affiliates to that organisation for arranging the conference and for giving all of those present the opportunity to raise issues about a system that is clearly in crisis.

In my speech I stated: “The prison system in England and Wales is in crisis” - I have heard that before somewhere! The prison estate in England is full to capacity – and we have all heard that before as well.

Year on year the POA, along with every other organisation with an interest in the criminal justice system, has been telling the current government and it predecessors that our prisons are overfilled and are being used as dumping grounds for those with mental health, personality disorders and addiction problems.

The prison system as a whole has been severely overcrowded since 1994. The current Director General states that he does not wish to have a return to the times when the POA took industrial action in the 1970s and 80s by locking prison gates to prevent overcrowding and the consequential breakdown of security and control. If that is the case then he should get up off of his belly and fight for better resoursing.

Every year the government publish their projections about what is going to happen to the prison population, and for the last decade the population has consistently been higher at the end of those projections. So the question now becomes – if projections are correct and the government and the prison service management have the knowledge, why have we ended up in the positions of having to use police cells at huge cost to the prison budget and having to hold prisoners in court cells for long periods of time in inhumane conditions?

The answer is quite simple, and can be summed up in three words – HER

MAJESTY’S TREASURY. The failure of the Home Office, the

Prison Service but most importantly the prisons board to secure appropriate funding is an absolute national disgrace.

On the subject of how the POA has been blamed I made the following points:

“The POA, over the last three years, have been dragged through the courts by a government intent on silencing any voice of criticism regarding their mismanagement. We have had the opportunity to examine the criminal justice system from the both sides. Our experience has not been good. The government has used the justice system as a weapon to attack our Union, it’s National Executive, its membership and has even threatened it’s continued existence. All this under a so-called Labour Government!’’

On the subject of the direction in which the justice unions should be going, I made clear that the way forward was as follows:

“We need to campaign together in a forceful way. We need to get off our backsides as activists to educate our membership. We need to challenge the failures of Government in a noisy, loud and public way, but more importantly where restrictions are placed in our way by the use of bad laws, we need to break those laws. Stranding together and united we can change the justice system to a fair, modern and acceptable system.

We can make it better for the

unions, for our members, for the user and create a civil society for all; or we can sit back do nothing and watch it destroyed on the alter of financial cut backs and privatisation. It is our duty to cause these changes.’’

To all POA members – let us all stand strong with our Trades Union Comrades. Let us take the fight to the Government. Together we are strong – together we can win!

Brian CatonGeneral Secretary

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Anyone who witnessed either first hand or through media coverage, the terrible scenes at the Valley Parade Football Ground, Bradford, in May 1985 could not have failed to have been affected by the sheer horror. The terrifying ferocity of the fire at the ground was vividly captured by television for the world to witness. Men, women and children perished in pursuit of the innocent pleasure of watching a football match. Many others suffered injuries from which they have never recovered.

This year was significantly poignant as it saw the first meeting of Bradford City and Lincoln City since that fateful day, and must have touched the hearts of many who still have vivid memories of the tragic events of that Saturday afternoon. Possibly none more so than the current managers, Peter Jackson and Stuart McCall, who were playing for Lincoln City and Bradford City on that very day.

At the 1985 POA Annual Conference, which was held in Portsmouth shortly after the tragedy, the delegates motivated by the concern and sadness they shared with those affected, decided on behalf of the membership to provide a positive memorial to the tragedy and Easter 1986 saw the inauguration of the Valley Parade Memorial competition.

In the finest tradition of the POA the tournament has continued since that

time and, as each year passes, seems to remain fresh and vibrant. Itis approached with the same enthusiasm as when it started, keeping alive the dream of those who attended the 1985 POA Conference, to provide a lasting memorial in commemoration of those people who tragically lost their lives on the 11th May 1985 at Valley Parade, home of Bradford City Football Club.

The 23rd Valley Parade tournament took place over the Easter weekend (21st – 24th March), and once again was a tremendous success, with teams of under 12 and 14 years competing for the cups for their respective age group. In addition to the teams from the Bradford area, teams from Lincoln, Galway (Ireland) and Hamm (Bradford’s twin town in Germany) also took part. The winners of the under 12 age group this year were Hamm, and the winners of the under 14 age group were

Bradford City. The Women’s Cup, which was introduced a few years ago, was again competed for – the finalists being Bradford City Ladies and Bradford Park Avenue – with Bradford City Ladies winning after the match went to a penalty shoot-out.

With Easter being unusually early this year it meant the weather was extremely unkind (however the youngsters taking part in the competition did not appear to notice); before play could commence on the Sunday the snow that had fallen during the night had to be cleared from the pitches. However, the sun did eventually make an appearance, even if it was somewhat brief.

The current Mayor of Bradford attended on the Sunday afternoon, in what has now become an annual date in the Mayoral calendar, to present the medals. Stuart McCall, Bradford City manager, also attended over the weekend accompanied by two players from the first team to support the tournament; in addition Bradford City provided 300 free tickets for their home game on Easter Monday afternoon for the youngsters to attend.

It is hoped that all the youngsters who attended this years tournament left with experience, friendship and some great memories of the weekend.

John Boddington, MBE

Valley Parade Memorial Tournament

Valley Parade

7May 2008

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LLW

Dismissal and personal injury claims: the overlap

8 Gatelodge

POA members may be forgiven for any confusion about the apparent overlap between personal injury and unfair dismissal claims, and how these different claims can be pursued, as the distinctions are not always clear.

Essentially, a claim that an employer’s negligence has led to personal or psychiatric harm is a ‘common law’ claim and is generally pursued in the main court system (County Court or High Court). This is known as a ‘personal injury’ claim and is based on the employer’s breach of its duty of care.

A claim about the fairness of a dismissal is an unfair dismissal claim which must be brought in the Employment Tribunal. There is a statutory limit on the amount of compensation which can be recovered in an unfair dismissal claim, which is currently £63,000. In exceptional circumstances there may be a claim that the employer has breached the implied contractual duty of ‘mutual trust and confidence’. If the breach causes financial loss or psychiatric damage, a breach of contract claim can be brought, generally in the County Court. Some breach of contract claims can be brought in the Employment Tribunal but, again, there is a limit on compensation, which has been fixed at £25,000 for many years.

No compensation for the man-ner of dismissal A few years ago, the House of Lords held the cases of Johnson v Unisys Ltd [2002] and Dunnachie v Kingston-upon-Hull City Council [2005], where compensation for the manner or circumstances of a dismissal could not be awarded as an unfair dismissal claim. Compensation of that sort can only be awarded through a common law claim, and compensation for ‘injury to feelings’ suffered as part of the dismissal is not recoverable.

By way of illustration, the Johnson claim involved an employee suffering psychological illness as a result of the employer’s failure to follow its own disciplinary procedures. Mr Johnson won his unfair dismissal claim but the cap on unfair dismissal compensation was, at that time, just over £11,000. He was unable to bring a separate breach of contract claim to the County Court for

further damages for the psychological injury he suffered as a result of his employer’s breaches of procedure. In Dunnachie the Court reached the same conclusion over a constructive dismissal claim. (As POA members may know, constructive dismissal is a form of unfair dismissal which involves a fundamental breach of contract on the part of the employer leaving the employee with no option but to resign).

Compensation for pre-dismissal negligence/breachThen the House of Lords, in the combined cases of Eastwood v Magnox Electric PLC and McCabe v Cornwall County Council [2005], specifically held that a claim can be made in the Civil Courts for damages for personal injury (including future loss of earnings resulting from that injury) where there has been a breach of the duty of care or of the implied contractual term of trust, and confidence where those breaches were prior to (and separate from) the dismissal. If those claims exist independently of the unfair dismissal claim, both sets of proceedings can be pursued.

Mr McCabe, a teacher, won his unfair dismissal claim and was also allowed to pursue a separate County Court claim on the basis of his employer’s breach of its duty to provide him with a safe place of work prior to his suspension following complaints of sexual misconduct. In the case of Eastwood, the employees suffered personal and psychiatric injuries caused by deliberate misuse by managers of the disciplinary processes against them consisting of months of bullying and harassment prior to their dismissals. They settled their unfair dismissal claims, but then brought separate claims alleging negligence and breach of the implied term of trust and confidence which they were allowed to pursue.

SummaryIn summary: claims regarding breaches of contract or negligence prior to and separate from the dismissal process can only be pursued as common law claims in the County Court. There is no limit on compensation for such claims. On the other hand, claims regarding any aspect

of the disciplinary procedure or dismissal must be brought as unfair dismissal claims in the Employment Tribunal and the statutory cap on compensation applies. There are two distinct sets of claims and circumstances which fall in between – i.e. injury suffered as a result of the dismissal itself or, the manner of dismissal – and are unlikely to be covered by a legal claim.

Recent case of dismissal of a sick employeeThe Court of Appeal has now examined how these decisions work together in practice in the recent case of Gab Robins (UK) Ltd v Triggs (2008). In that case, a secretary complained that she was overworked and bullied by her manager. She went off sick with stress and depression. The employer arranged a return to work meeting but prior to that meeting, the employee resigned claiming constructive dismissal. The Employment Tribunal hearing the claim found that the employer was in breach of the implied contractual duty of mutual trust and confidence and so found the employee had been constructively dismissed.

The Tribunal awarded the claimant compensation on the basis that she was entitled to the loss of her salary from her dismissal at the full rate. On appeal, however, the employer argued that the loss of salary the employee had suffered was because she was already ill and on sick pay at the time of her dismissal, so the lost earnings flowed from the breach of the duty of trust and confidence prior to the dismissal and not, the dismissal itself. The Court of Appeal has agreed with the employer, holding that the loss of earnings flowed exclusively from the employer’s breaches of contract which had been committed prior to the dismissal, so that loss was only recoverable, if at all, through a common law personal injury claim and not in the unfair dismissal claim. There appears nothing to prevent the employee from bringing a personal injury claim if the legal test is fulfilled and the claimant is still within the three year time limit.

Implications for members dismissed for capabilityThis case has implications for employees who are dismissed on capability grounds

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Dismissal and personal injury claims: the overlap

9May 2008

which arise as a result of negligence or breaches of contract by their employer. If the employee is ill with work-related stress at the time of the dismissal then he or she will only be able to recover the consequent loss of salary in an unfair dismissal claim from the point at which they recover and start looking for further work. The losses due to work-related stress or other injury would have to form part of a separate personal injury claim. If the injury consists only of psychiatric injury - ‘stress’ – such claims are very diffi cult to prove and the employee may end up with no compensation.

In the Prison Service where a member is dismissed on the grounds of health (capability), he is generally compensated by way of a Medical Ineffi ciency Termination Payment, or even an ill-health pension which may or may not include a lump sum. These payments would have to be taken into account when a Tribunal awards compensation following a successful unfair dismissal claim. If the member seeks reinstatement as part of a settlement of an unfair dismissal claim or, as a remedy at Tribunal, it becomes necessary for him/her to repay any Medical Ineffi ciency payment. In circumstances where the member seeks reinstatement, we generally have to advise that member to retain such a payment in a separate fund rather than spend it!

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LLW

10 Gatelodge

08-11 LLW.indd 10 21/4/08 11:20:00

LLW

11May 2008

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Branch News

12 Gatelodge

Birmingham

We bid a very fond farewell to Alan Greenwood who has given 32 years service to the Green, as well as Ian Sutherland, affectionately known as PP9.You both leave with the very best wishes from the Branch and we hope you have a long and enjoyable retirement. Please keep in touch!

We say a big thank you to Eddie Povey who drove a bus down to the Royal Courts of Justice in London with Chair, Sec and Mike Smith, along with a Officials from Bockhill, Brinsford and Hewell Grange to support our Union in the Court case against the Prison Service regarding the injunction.

Many staff are asking what we think of the new Governor. Well, perhaps the best analogy is that under the previous regime we were batting against a fast bowler where we were guaranteed a yorker, a leg cutter and a mandatory bouncer every over. Now we are facing a sophisticated spin bowler who has the same objectives as the previous bowler, just different technique and style. Inevitably this is to do more, with less, which is different to our members individual agenda’s which as result of another below inflation is try and do the same…but with less!

The new Governor has spoken of a glasnost amongst management and staff. Another positive aspect is that he has bought a number of staff back from suspension as a result of a more realistic and less punitive outlook on staff discipline. Mr Shanley appears to be delivering the Prison Service Agenda ... with a touch of humanity and realism.

It’s not everyday that a stage 2 grievance makes it to Cleland House in London to be heard by the Deputy Director General. Martin Webb’s did. He was akin

to Crocodile Dundee strolling around the capital, although our Black Country Bob would have been considerably more comfortable in his flat cap and a pig under is arm. Needless to say the day didn’t go without incident, with someone who was clearly in the care of the community having a hissy fit in our carriage. Later, Martin offered his seat to a lady on the tube who looked at him as though he had landed from another planet…err well nearly, Walsall in fact.

The two and a half year J.I.R.P.A dispute regarding the loss of two Principal Officer posts was won at arbitration and so these positions are safe from the scythe... for now. Although, we are hearing that two of them are being earmarked for an audits job, so perhaps they have only been sidelined to the waiting room before the Grim Reaper appears poised once again.

The standardised core day has caused some consternation with members, as we have removed ourselves from the process. Protect and promote is the remit of POA committee’s up and down the country, decisions by elected officials are not always seen as popular ones, but we are in no doubt that we should protect jobs and promote opportunities for our members. The standardised core day will rationalise regimes across the Prison Estate exposing appropriately staffed jails with dangerously inadequately staffed ones. Some members should ask themselves why they drive past these jails to come to Birmingham and they will more than likely say that it is safer here at The Green. These cuts will lose avenues for promotion for OSGs. Staff at Birmingham should have a good look round and see how many staff has been brought through to the Officer rank from OSG. Members should take a longer-term view on this as when the order to unlock comes and staff ask are you joking because their aren’t enough staff, and what are the POA doing about it? The plain and simple answer will be, “We are sorry, the fight was 3 years ago! You’ve missed the boat!” The fight starts here and not on the third year of this job cutting exercise. So while the 06:30 start and the 21:45 finish disappear over the horizon for now, we know not if staff will actually being going home at these

proposed times. I suspect not! Like so many other staff, Judd Dauncey

is supplementing his income with a secondary employment as an extra in “Ashes to Ashes”, along with Benny who made brief cameo in “Shameless”. Perhaps these career paths aren’t as grim as Ricky Gervais portrays it at £100 a day and free meal to boot.

Work life balance shift patterns are rapidly increasing as young families juggle their finances to afford a mortgage. It seems obvious to all, except the Prison Service, that they are dependent on two wages and staff are naturally desperate for these to be accepted. Fifty year mortgages and multiples of 6 x their wage are now common practice, no wonder so many staff are in debt as everything appears to be rapidly increasing except our wages.

Chair and Sec were invited to meet the Under Secretary of State, Maria Eagles M.P and inform her that Birmingham have some 300 beds spaces here. She was in a state of shock at this news when she was told that we could have eliminated the use of a Police Station almost overnight with a little investment. Sadly this is something the Prison Service seem averse to and appear infinitely happier cutting white shirts instead. Evidently, glasnost is not particularly new to this Committee as we have been highlighting our potential capacity here for three years now. So build the population and increase the budget and staff in post. Job done.

Ta raSaddlesore

Bristol

Hello to all our colleagues out there, in all Establishments, working under pressure with the Prison Service. We have all been working hard here at Bristol to “improve”.

Branch News

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Branch News

13May 2008

According to Prison Service figures we were a poor performing establishment. So we were re-profiled. Uniform grades only of course and staffing levels reduced. No surprise there.

However, all of the remaining staff continued to work hard and achieve the Prison Service targets. Short staffed and new profiles aside we have now achieved Level 3 status. Does this mean we will get a better class of prisoner now that we are a 3 star establishment? Time will tell?

I pass on our best wishes to those who have left for pastures new. Neil Butterworth, Usk, Sharman Wiltshire, Leyhill and Ian Bird are all having a career break, and Paula Stagg, Jim Lowden, Tony Ashmead and John Davison retired at the end of January. May you all have a long and happy retirement. The brave souls joining us here at Bristol are POELTS Valerie McKenzie, Bradley Anthony, Daniel Trick, Kieron Jones, Gareth Owen and OSG’s Richard Chard, Ryan Phillips and Nichola Niblett. And, of course a welcome back to Maurice Lockey. We also have two new Officers who should have completed their training by the time this is published – Chris Edwards and Ben Chandler, good luck in your new careers.

What would happen if Prison staff said ‘sorry can’t come in today, we are short staffed?’ Disciplinaries, sackings, who knows, because we carry on regardless.

The audit team arrived, after a lot of work by all here. And, they promptly left. Apparently they were short staffed and so could not carry out the very important audits. News flash! Establishments are constantly short staffed, but the auditors still expect all the boxes to be ticked and recorded, or they fail you. Being short staffed is no excuse.

Sadly Paul Robinson resigned as Branch Secretary, so after an election the new Branch Secretary is John Chapman (me). I hope to serve the membership here to the best of my ability.

If anybody wants to influence Branch Committees, or Union business and relations, join the POA, then and only then can you have a say.

Finally I cannot finish without saying that Paul Maltby, who is having a terrible time at the moment, has our best wishes and regards. Paul I hope that all goes well for you. You have worked tirelessly for this Branch and you deserve so much more than the hand that has been dealt you.

JC - Branch SecretaryBristol

BullingdonHello again from Bullingdon.

Decency; According to the Director General, HMPS Business Plan 2005-06, the overall test of decency is ‘would I be content for my son or daughter to be locked up and treated in the same way that prisoners are treated in prison?’

If staff are to be accorded the same rights to decency, being treated fairly, professionally and decently by all individuals, systems and procedures in all establishments, ask this question: would you be content for your son or daughter to work in a prison that is routinely under staffed and demoralised; where only the good will of the prisoners and staff accumulating TOIL keeps the gaol grinding on? To save you writing in… the answer is probably NO!

Whilst selling membership to ‘brand new screws’ and explaining the benefits of union membership, I felt need to point out a draw back of being a POA member, that is having the Unions teeth removed by Snatcher Thatcher. Then ‘New Labour’ lied like politicians and reneged on an agreement to reinstate said teeth. One recruit, whom I suspect is too young to have remembered a Conservative government, asked ‘Why had we voted for Labour then?’ It reminded me of a little anecdote:

An old POA stalwart, Bob, passed away and was whisked to the pearly gates to be met by St. Peter, who said that operational procedures had changed and that there was now a new protocol (starting to sound familiar?) “You don’t automatically gain entrance any more Bob; you have to undergo a ‘tour’.”

“I wasn’t aware of this!” exclaimed Bob“You should read your NTS!” So, St Peter sends Bob on a fact finding

mission to Hell. When he arrives, Bob is pleasantly surprised! Warm, sunny climate all year round, all inclusive, relaxed poolside bars and some really famous old politicians, enjoying the luxurious setting, including an ex-Prime Minister who showed Bob around.

Everywhere he went seemed like a dream come true; lakes full of fish, never ending, perfectly manicured golf courses, you name it! Bob is then whisked back to Heaven. St. Peter shows him round. “Nothing special,” thinks Bob, “temperate climate, cold wet winters, much like the life I left behind.”

Next day, Bob finds Peter and says, “I want to go to Hell!”

“You sure?” “Yes, I’ve made me mind up, send me

downstairs!”

When Bob arrives, it’s blisteringly hot; the earth is scorched dry, barren, and desolate!! Bob is met by the same ex-Prime Minister, Bob asks “What’s going on, it wasn’t like this yesterday, what happened to paradise?”

“Well son, yesterday we were electioneering, today you’ve voted!!”

Over and under 30’s Match The inaugural under vs. over 30 (years of age, not IQ) football match took place on Saturday 1st March at Buckingham Town FC. The young pretenders squad had an average age of 22 while the more mature team averaged 42. Following kick off it soon became apparent that the over 30s team was deficient in a few areas: namely fitness, skill and tactics. Half time was reached with a fairly respectable score of 4-1 to the youngsters.

The break gave the over 30s the opportunity to rethink their tactics. This resulted in much of the second half being played with one or two extra players making appearances, sometimes without any one else going off! The youngsters unsportingly complained about this tactic, but continued to score freely. There was a brave fight back that saw a brace of goals for the old boys but the writing was on the wall. At the final whistle the under 30’ squeaked a narrow victory of 9-3!

Everyone had a good night and we managed to raise a significant amount of money for charity. Thanks to the Governor, Phil Taylor, who paid for the transport and a nice trophy which, hopefully, the winning team can track down where they left it. It has apparently been photographed by Reedos of the ‘Penny Black’ boys.

Get well soon to S.O. Matt ‘sick note’ Askins who broke his ankle during the second half. Finally, a big thank you to all the supporters who turned out, we hope you enjoyed the entertainment!

Carstairs

Much has occurred at Carstairs since we last contributed.

Firstly the branch has said ‘goodbye’ then ‘hello’ to Hughie Crawford who

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retired but then decided that he missed us all too much, and has now has returned to loiter around the site 2 or 3 nights a week. Although no longer active in the Union, his wealth of experience remains for those who are in need of his unrivalled knowledge and wit.

The branch has welcomed a new steward, Alan Connor, to its ranks and sends its congratulations to existing stewards, Iain Dickson, who has successfully completed his Registered Mental Health Nurse training, and Bobby Hunter, who has just been accepted for this course which, in time, will propel him to the very top of his profession.

Plans to completely rebuild the site at the cost of £67 million, wholly funded by public money, have recently been approved. The hospital is to be reduced in size from 240 to 140 beds, with new regional medium secure units in the West, East and North of Scotland providing facilities for those not deemed to require High Security. The development will see an overall reduction in staff by 10% between now and its planned completion in 2011 which, although achievable without redundancy, will require careful management. Probably the biggest challenge is that the redevelopment and demolition of the old hospital is going to take place on the existing site, with patients and staff in ‘situ’. One suspects this will have its ‘moments’, particularly given that due to the monsoon season from January to December Carstairs can be somewhat muddy.

Like everyone else, I suspect the branch faces challenges around staff’s wages and cost saving. The branch is currently involved in a dispute concerning the management’s unwillingness to pay the identified outcome of a Job Evaluation Panel which identified that Senior Staff Nurses should receive a Band 6 wage. This protracted dispute has seen the ‘Agenda for Change’ process grind to a halt at Carstairs and, although perhaps now reaching its final stages, much damage has been caused to previously excellent industrial relations which will require a lot of work to repair.

On the cost saving front management are attempting to change shift patterns which will deliver savings but badly affect the working conditions of frontline staff, as is the norm. Looking to reduce bureaucrats is not an option that is entertained. We are currently in the midst of a consultation process with members

to establish if they want to accept their proposals that see the erosion of the extra days off obtained under the ‘Agenda for Change Agreement’.

Anyway all this keeps us busy and what else would we find to occupy ourselves?

Best wishes to all our colleagues in the other special hospitals and prison estates.

Lady In The Green T Shirt

Castington

Hello to everyone out there from Castington. Sorry for the lack of jottings of late, but nothing seems to happen up here. Nothing I can put into print that is!We are the top performing North East prison at the moment and a recent survey shows we are the third top prison nationally for staff morale. I can understand this due to my wit, humour and jottings!

We are now a high performing prison and I must say we are very proud to be given such an accolade.

Well done to SO Dave Wingfield on being awarded the ‘North East Prison Officer of The Year’ for his work with dangerous and difficult prisoners. I’ve mentioned it so can I have my leave now Dave, please? Also, well done to Barry Smith on his award for his work with the ‘Toe By Toe’ scheme.

We recently said goodbye to Bill Shaw our Governor who took up a position in Headquarters and Alex Tait taking over as our governing Governor. We also say farewell to Rob Nixon who moves across the road to Acklington as PO, on promotion to SO at Acklington; Neil “Core Day” Bruce, Alan Tomkims, Vincent Russell Smith, Graham Henderson and Andy Carr. Good luck to them all.

Hopefully Neil Bruce will negotiate a parking space of his own and wont jump into one someone else is reversing into! Just before he left Russell Smith was

awarded ‘Employee of the Month’ No one seems to know why I’m sure he will reveal all to Acklington staff in one of his “During the War” moments.

Also left for pastures new at Frankland are Dave Bishop, Gary Lockey, Fred Coates, Paul Johnstone and Dane Morgan.

We welcome to Castington Amanda Haley from Low Newton, from the school, Dez Molloy, Rachel Meling, Steve Carruthers, Simon Howard, Emma Nattress, Will Armstrong and Graham Harvey. We hope you have settled in well. Welcome to Craigand Steve Cullas who join us from Frankland. Craig has been promoted to SO in situ.

Also, hello to Warwick Davis who joins us from Lancaster Farms. Warwick has settled in well and his only fault is he follows Manchester United. Yes, he has to use the A to Z to find the ground (but is looking into sat-nav) Warwick is well known for his over zealous use of hair gel and giving himself admiring looks in anything that reflects back!

Welcome to PEI Steve Watts from Durham.

Who was the keen cleaning officer on Oswald Unit who put the new fridge thermometer in the fridge but after 3 hours it still read 36˚C? He then went back to check it an hour later and was still reading the same temperature.

I think we all would have removed the plastic cover off the readout display which has a simulated readout on it first. Own up Mr Short!!

Well done to PEI Phil McVay on enduring a haircut, I heard the Paramedics were on standby!

I would also, on a personal note express my thanks to Steve Gillan for donating £10,000 to the Families Fund in aid of the four Fire Fighters who were tragically killed in the factory fire in Warwickshire. Anyone who knows me is aware of my interest in the Fire Service.

May I also thank the staff at Low Newton for the help and hospitality shown towards staff from Castington who have attended there on constant watch duties.

Do the staff at Low Newton know Ginny Senior got lost driving from the local hospital back to Low Newton! About 2 miles door to door I think!

That’s it from Castington, for now, any news please pass it on to me at the sharp end, Godric Unit.

Steve “The Scribe” Perry

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Channings Wood

Up the strikers! What a day we had. There was a very strong feeling of camaraderie throughout the day. There was the obvious inclusion of humour, mainly supplied by Mandy Richards and myself but the only thing missing was a cup of tea to go with the supplies kindly provided by Shaun Crome. The irony is that it was the only time we have ever known his whereabouts for a whole day!!!

So now we are having an all out war with the Government over our tie-pins. I have no problem supporting our NEC over principles but I do have difficulty supporting this. When I joined the NEC Womens Committee in 2002 the first item on the agenda was to find an alternative to tie-pins for women members. When the Committee was disbanded in 2005 it was still on the agenda! I think the NEC should look at the principle of excluding a large proportion of the membership just because they do not have the uniform to pin the offending tie-pin to!!

Sorry I missed the last edition, but here I am back at the computer. So what’s been happening here in the last few weeks? Lots that’s what! There have been some team building exercises going on and here is an exclusive: one Governor, who wished to remain nameless (shame as it’s Richard Luscombe), went out to an adventure park with his team. The exclusive isn’t that his team lost as that’s not a surprise, but the forfeit for losing was for him to be put through a Christmas tree wrapping machine. Apparently he looked like he was wearing the world’s biggest fishnet stocking! You don’t have to take my word for it, there are pictures, allegedly!

There was a terrible accident in the stores recently resulting in Ray being taken to hospital in pain. Get well soon Ray, and look after yourself.

So our Chairman has made a costly mistake. If you want to know how much it costs to fill your diesel car with petrol, and

then have it taken out again, Mick will give you a breakdown of the expenditure!!

Our best wishes to Mr & Mrs. Salamone on the birth of their beautiful baby boy.

It is now over 8 months since Richard Easton was suspended from duty for protecting himself after being assaulted by a prisoner. The Governor ordered an investigation into the incident which was an utter and total shambles, to say the least. The investigating Governors should be utterly ashamed of themselves for their actions during the investigation. They used the wrong PSO to conduct the investigation then issued the wrong DAPS forms and took several months to complete the investigation only to get it all wrong. SHAMEFUL. We would like to know who is going to investigate them for getting it so wrong and for the worry they have caused Richard?

Richard is still suspended, and now the area manager has ordered another investigation!! They seem to be hell bent in making Richard suffer.

As the investigation is still on going it would not be fair to say much more only to let Richard know the staff (except the Governors) are fully behind you and we do not intend to let you down.

I would like to say a big THANK-YOU to Darren Dundridge who is supporting Richard through these tough times.

The PO’s recently went out on a team building exercise, they went quad biking. I think there must have been something that happened, because no one is talking…….. How strange!!

That’s it for now; don’t forget that you can email me with the local gossip. I can assure anonymity to all except uniform and Governor Grades!!

‘Scoop Wilson’ - LB8

Chelmsford

Hello boys and girls,Well here is the Chelmsford school

report for the term starting 2008.

I must start with some rather disturbing news. One of the 6th form head boys has been expelled from school after over 30 years. Bill Redick was a great pupil who worked well and was revered by all. Bill was a little bit of a scallywag that could be disruptive in class and was prone to being sent to the headmaster’s room. Young William will be sadly missed about the play ground. A few other head boys and girls could do a lot worse than take a page out of William’s book and stop being so pedantic.

I understand that young William has taken up drinking John Smiths and listening to that awful rock music by Eric Clapton. We wish young William well.

All the houses at the school are working well. Ann Betty Chastity Dolly Ethel Freda and Gerty.

The word about the playground is that the pupils are smiling a little bit more now and I think that might be down to the headmaster keeping his cane in his drawer but we still have to be their our guard with the prefects walking about the school still telling the naughty boys to put their school ties on and checking that our homework is up to date and written in the correct manner. I don’t understand why it’s so important for a boy to wear a tie when he’s stood next to a girl who doesn’t? Will wearing a tie make me a better person? We keep being told that the board of governors want to save money. So do away with the ties but keep a box full in the registration room in case we have to pick up a school satchel and go on a school trip. Anyway, we all have to be very very careful now or it could be 200 lines for you and even a bad mark in your yearly report book. I took our gang magazine home to show mummy what was written in it last months rag. Mummy said I was a naughty boy and I was sent to bed with no supper she said I might have upset someone so I have to ask for forgiveness. I told mummy that everyone at school said it was a spiffin letter and even that smelly kid who does the registration said he liked it. Skunk Gillespie. He smells.

Anyway back to what is going on about the school. I was informed that the night stalker, little Denis Bent from night class, got in all of a fluster and called one of the boys from the bad school ‘sir’ and started to ask if he could use his computer. He was so ashamed when the boy said he was a boarding school pupil that he even offered Wwampy Kemp all his pocket money not to tell the rest of us at play time. Didums. Some one told me that chubby

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Moran from Betty house was on a diet, but you can still see him most dinner times in the Red Lion tuck shop (a coke and a cow pie please), BLESS. And he wets the bed, so I’ve been told. Mmm!

Someone also told me that Grouchy Crouch is getting a big tummy and will be getting a new dolly soon. She was never in the sex education class, she talked too much and was always playing tag with Ping Pong Pugh. Good luck to them.

All over the school we have new boys and girls starting every week, and at registration it’s hard to remember their names, but we wish them well. And no doubt our annual kiss chase games will start.

If the rest of the boys and girls could give you any advice I think it would be to look, learn, digest and be yourself. Don’t jump in head first. And don’t be scared to ask for help, and stand up for yourself. Well I heard that the headmaster was not too chuffed with me and said something about dinosaurs to our milk monitor, Crock Carter. I hope it’s the slipper and not the cane?

We have a school disco, soon so no doubt the day after we will know who was caught snogging behind the bike shed and who was sucking up to the teachers. We know that it’ll be the same old faces but I think most kids will want to know at what house or roundabout goody two shoes Goodwin will end up at. Also, the Gillespie Rodford gang now they are naughty boys, especially skunk Gillespie. Rodders, well he aint the full shilling. I think his daddy dropped him when he was a baby but he tries hard. They tease the girls they do. They pull pig tails and pinch bums. Well mummy has called me for tea now so I will leave you with a playground thought. Say what you have to say, admit it and be counted. Remember it’s not a totalitarian state yet. And I hope to see you all in detention!

Mickey B

Exeter

Greetings one and all! Once again, another jottings comes upon us and once again another apology to make; in my haste to

complete the last entries I may have got Erlestoke all excited thinking they had a new member of staff joining them. Alas this is not the case! Tim did in fact go off to Guys Marsh, a fact that everyone here knew but me apparently!

Other comings and goings that I do know about (hopefully!) has been Steve Snell off to Channings Wood and John Westaway to Dartmoor. Whilst I’m on the subject of Westy, congratulations to him and Emma Pretlove for the arrival of their daughter, Olivia. Further congratulations to Lucy and Rob Marrison on the birth of their daughter, Isobel. Both arrived shortly after my last entries went off for publication. My own little “flubling” is developing well and should be arriving around July. There will be NO sweepstake as to its weight when it arrives if you don’t mind!

Greetings to all the new staff that have recently joined us. Marc Kerswell, Heather Harvey, Gary Marsh, Mark Follett and Debbie Lake join us from the college whilst Sandra Umfreville transferred from Guys Marsh.

All these comings mean we must lose some people too. Eric Rogers and Bill Coles have retired and are planning how best to ensure they get the most from the Service Pension after countless years in it.

It’s been a quiet spell on the “real” jottings front. No further entries on the tact and diplomacy contest this time around. Mark Dawe, however, can take pride in the fact he’s managed to be mentioned twice in a row. Apparently when you’re carrying a police radio in your duties it’s never a good idea to press that little red button on the top accidentally. I hear the officers that turned up lights a-flashing were very understanding Mark!

Now, take a moment of pause to consider those who work alongside you. Look at them as your colleagues, friends and perhaps more importantly, people you can rely on to render assistance in the event of an alarm bell. Some staff run full pelt towards the unknown, scant regard for their own safety. Some are more conservative in their efforts, preferring to conserve valuable energy to use in the ensuring melee. Others, it could be said, hang back and secure gates, doors and landings, resigned to the fact that it’s a young mans game these days and it’s probably a false one anyway. And then, ladies and gentlemen there’s Trev “Cool-hand Luke” Denham. This man is the epitome of cool under pressure and was seen recently “walking with purpose” towards our HCU with a hard boiled egg in his hand which must have <ahem>

“accidentally” fell off the hotplate. Upon his arrival and having performed a quick dynamic assessment of the situation he then proceeded to peel said egg and consume it without a second thought!

That’s all for another issue. Keep the stories coming and I’ll pass them up for perusal.

Flub

Ford

Welcome to the second jottings from Ford.I must start these jottings by passing

on the staff condolences to Naz and Mimi Eltahir on the sad loss of their son. Our thoughts are with you both during your time of grief.

We welcome to Ford Officer Simon Taylor, and S.O. Francis Quinnell. We hope you enjoy your time here. To the departing members of staff, remember the grass probably is greener on the other side.

To S.O. Sally Hill – there was a message I promised I would put in the jottings for you after your transfer to Downview, but what I wanted to put ESCAPES me!

We have passed the Christmas period – a time when staff felt more like mushrooms (if you don’t know the saying ask someone on your local POA Committee)!! Lets hope that the Christmas routine is better planned this year (Governor just tell the staff on duty what you are expecting or planning please!).

Welcome back to those of you who have returned from the sick leave – it’s really nice to see you again. And to those who are currently off sick, you have not been forgotten, I promise! You only have to pick up the phone if needed.

Until we get our full staff in post can the last member of staff PLEASE turn off the lights on their way out of the door after another under staffed shift, as it will help towards saving the required 0.5 savings!.

Now the moanTo those wishing to complain at the contents of my jottings, I have got this to say:• If you are a member and if you think you

can do better, be my guest, feel free!

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• If you are NOT a member – why are you reading my jottings anyway? If you want to read and complain about them, pay your subs like the rest of the membership (forms freely available)!Lastly, to all staff. be careful out there.

Just remember there are CAT D Prisoners out there somewhere, just not many at Ford. The Prisons Minister and Governor claim we don’t have non CAT D Prisoners here so it must be true (whoops just bit my tongue in cheek!). But that depends on what they want to dictate or impose on staff.

If you have any news for the next jottings please pass them on.

De-Caff Man (New Year’s resolution)Scrap that: put kettle on - where’s the real coffee? RRRRRRR, that’s better!

Frankland

A fond farewell to our Governor Bob Mullen. A large number of staff would have liked to have said their goodbyes personally, but circumstances did not allow. Good luck in the future, and thanks for not painting the prison BLUE!

Welcome back to the north east our new Governor Dave Thompson.

A fond farewell goes to Steve Cullis who is one of the few officers who has not left Frankland under a darkened cloud. Little do people know but Steve’s wit actually influenced some of our jottings and I hope he takes this wit with him to Castington and launches it with renewed vigour. Steve and I spent many a time in the woodmill anaylsing the grafitti and wondering who it was about.We wish you all the best Steve and we hope you don’t have any more problems with the BT engineers regarding your broadband at home!

Hollywood executives were enraged to find that prisoners were seeing old movies on dvd every Saturday night. “Todays inmates are being left behind when it comes to entertainment, they are seeing films years after they were released at the cinema! We have to move away from the old days where a film was shown at the pictures, then to dvd

then to the public for sale or rent. I propose that those at Hollywood release new films to the prisons first, then to the cinema and then to the general public maybe a year later”.

A message from CamelotLottery chiefs will be announcing soon that the prison service’s application for a lottery grant has been successful. It will pay for new cell doors which will have their own letter boxes and door chimes built in. A further application for ‘welcome mats’ for the prisoners cells has yet to be approved.

A message to all wingsFrom now on when you ring in your role you only have to give your surname as numbers are an afterthought now. This was brought to our attention by an officer who had rang his numbers in and was asked to confirm his name rather than the numbers he had just rang in.

History sheetsWill all staff please remember to put quality entries into wing history sheets on a regular basis and when you are on leave there is no reason why you can’t visit the local chapel and light some candles for your inmates. This will show continued support and care even whilst you are off.

Recently an “officer” (not from Frankland) has had his memoirs printed in book form and it hit the shelves in Asda next to other bestsellers like last years Harry Potter and Beano annuals!

A word of advice for any other officers who want to write a book, if you have only two minutes service in then why not admit it? There is nothing wrong with starting the job from new, we have all done it. It doesn’t look very good when you are using phrases from thirty years ago and portraying this big hard image to make it look like you have years in the job!

Next time, tell the truth! Which SO went round the staff on Friday 11th January on his wing asking who would like to do an ED at short notice? This included staff who were sitting on the toilet.

Certain SOs have been feeling the heat just lately. You know, silly things like details, etc. Look, if an SO details you a workshop on a scheduled shift then just get on with it! Stop nitpicking by saying that an EGP is on reports doing a report for one of your personal inmates, I mean how petty? You will be saying that certain staff are being protected next or even go as far as saying that certain staff

are being kept together! Grow Up!There is nothing wrong with pointing

things out on the detail to the SOs but really we have to draw a line and not make it appear to be a personal dig to that SO. You know when its time to back off when he comes up with the following phrases:

“You have to take the rough with the smooth”

“I don’t want to fall out with you”“I agree with you” (to your face)“You didn’t complain last week when

you had reports on an early shift”

Which wing?Which wing looks after its loan in staff by keeping them on the wing and putting its own staff in the workshops?

Did you know that if you are wearing your tie but not a regulation fleece then it is classed as a major security breach?

Application of the month“I would like to swap my budgie for my friends budgie on D Wing. He knows my budgie and he knows it is placid and quiet which is what he wants. His budgie is very bold and maybe too much for him to handle. My friend often gets verbal abuse from the other inmates on his landing when it chirps and this is stressing him out.”

Both budgies were subject to a Class B search which was observed by an SO a PO and a Governor.

This was obviously cleared by a Governor much to the annoyance of the November who had to take the inmate to D wing, thinking he had a more important task to do as a November!

Which Governor, whilst visiting a bedwatch to carry out management checks on Christmas day, wrote the 24th December in the log? And then actually queried what the day was!

I bet you cant guess which female officer called the police at the Metro Centre to report her car stolen only to be informed that she had already sold it! The Laguna that was parked where her car had been was in fact her new car. Just keep swimming Dory!

For those staff who use the lifts in department stores and wait patiently for the door in front to open, look behind you, you will find that the doors behind you have probably been open for at least a few minutes and were just waiting for you to turn round!

It’s only fair not to mention Dave Mattless here.

If any staff are wondering about the rumours going round about inmates

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being able to attend wing briefings each morning, yes, they are true.

The Governor would like to thank all those staff who returned from sick leave in time for their weekend off.

The tie police are watchingThe following is a true account of a recent adventure with a Cat ‘A’ van.

On returning from Whitemoor after dropping its prisoners off, the driver pulled into the nearest petrol station which happened to be situated near an RAF base. When he went to pay the bill he was asked if he was in the RAF and if so, was he a pilot to which he replied no and laughed (unlike some officers who would have jumped at the chance of stating that when they go undercover they are used for secret bombing missions flying new jets that hadn’t even been designed yet). On returning to the van he found it wouldn’t start up so now he found himself in a quandary, should he ring the RAF for air support or the RAC?

When the RAC turned up they decided that the van wouldn’t start up because the RAF masts were interfering with the vans communications systems, or was it the mobilisers? They eventually returned to the prison to be asked if they had their ties on at all times!

The officer who gave this story is now in the Witness Protection Program for staff as he didn’t want other staff to find out how many “driver navs” he gets, or “two dayers” just in case the “special citeria” for selection of staff was exposed.

A tip for new staff. If you make a mistake it is always best to pass the buck, please don’t be stupid and own up to your mistakes, it is always best to blame someone else. Also, if you are bored and you hear that someone MAY have made a mistake then get your head together with a co-snake and start vicious rumours off. Don’t worry, even if you haven’t got your facts right it is still good fun to start rumours off. This way you can build a reputation for yourself where no one ends up trusting you and no one will do XOD’s with you etc. Believe me, this is a tried and tested method used by some staff very effectively. REMEMBER, YOU ARE IN THIS FOR YOURSELF AND NOBODY ELSE!

A mention goes to Officer James Bartlett of Glen Parva who praised our jottings. Thank you James! As Frankland often struggles with things to write about we thought it best to contract ourselves out and write about things happening at Glen Parva instead, so pass those stories on James!

The bread police are watching Which PO on his recent expedition managed to find a quantam computer so he could email his wing SOs the latest Governors notice to staff that had started three days previously?

Thanks to SO Stewart Herkes for his help with these jottings as Steve Jackson has been very busy lately with various POA matters. We wish you a speedy recovery Steve as the staff here know you do an excellent job!

I would just like to add that it took SO Herkes to point out that I didn’t have to keep lacing up my boots what with their being zips on the sides! This proves that I am not perfect and am able to laugh at myself. However, I did put an SIR in about myself because I didn’t think it was right to be laughing in the workplace as I wouldn’t want to give the impression to a third party that people can actually be happy in their workplace.

Steve Jackson & Darren Stafford

Garth

A big hello from all at Garth. We would like to welcome all our new staff & wish a fond farewell to those who have moved on.

To all the staff that are off ill we wish you a speedy recovery. Whilst speaking about sickness our jail has been hit by the flu bug with record levels of sick being recorded. Amazingly though the regime has been unaffected. We still manage to meet targets and get everything done, oh, except grant staff leave, but no targets on that anyway. With staff being told no ad hoc leave is available for months moral is hitting rock bottom. Staff cannot work without rest and recuperation. The only outcome from that is that staff break, they feel pressured, stressed and unable to find motivation. Leave should be a vital part of any work place planning that is honoured. As the time of year comes around when we hear leave

is going to be taken from staff, it’s important to raise the fact that staff should be rewarded for making the system work, not punished by having leave taken off them.

Well, our 20 year celebration do is getting closer the conspiracy theories are about. The main one seems to be that it is all a smoke screen for a mass staff capability hearing, with the dancing being used as a fitness testing. We wait to see if C&R can be included in it as well.

Our Royal visit came and went with the tweed suits out in force. It has to be said that our Governor’s suit was much the nicer one. Despite all the tweed on show, our Secretary was sent all hot and bothered by the site of our Governor in her muddy boots and hard hat on her way to do a site inspection. Now it’s known about Phil’s liking of muddy boots management meetings may never be the same again. The hard hats are normal for meetings anyway.

As we return from the special delegates meeting it is with a feeling of doom. Phil and I feel like the Grim Reaper spreading the bad news. The feeling of only the POA are fighting to save jobs has never been more apparent. It really is about time all Governors showed some bottle and said enough is enough, and started to fight for their staff instead of following blindly the lunatic brigade who dream up these improvements!

On the issue of fighting government and the service to protect your jobs I feel it is necessary to express my personal disgust with the TUC. Why the Trades Union Congress is not breaking down Government doors with condemnation of what they are doing to a trade union is unbelievable. It’s alright to say they think we’re great because we managed to go on strike. We want some real true support from the TUC; we need them to be enacting all their affiliated unions. They need to stand up and be heard instead of just letting it happen to us.

Again we have been dragged through the courts, this time ending up with another injunction. No surprise that it went against us. Well, we have had them before and I am sure we will get more in the future.

As the 8th May comes ever closer and the withdrawal from the JIRPA becomes final we all wonder, what next? There is no chance we will sign up to a no strike agreement ever again, and that is right and proper. So were do we go from there? Well, talks need to happen but with the

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department and the NEC at loggerheads I wonder how anything can be progressed or even if there is a wish to progress from the department. I feel we are being pushed ever closer to a position which we may not be able to back away from! A make or break time for this union. So it has never ever been more important that we stay united as members and support each other.

On local issues the proposed profile changes were massively rejected and we have not had such a clear rejection for a long time. We stand ready to speak to management on future profile improvements with hopefully some of our wishes being taken on board.

I have been asked to mention the Garth staff charity cycle ride from Lands End to John O’ Groates. Please support the lads and give generously to some very worthy causes.

We eagerly await the completion of our building works with the staff facility being one of the last bits to be finished. It will add much needed facilities for staff, just need somewhere for them to park now!

As ever, your committee are here for you if we can be of any support or you need advice please call in on us.

If you have any comments you think should be in Gatelodge please let me know.

We now just wait for our party and the following stories.

Best wishes,Your Committee

Kennet

Hello Colleagues,We start by re-iterating the Editor’s apology to the person concerned who took offence at our jottings for the December issue. I have written submissions for this magazine for around five years with out incident and the last thing I/we would want to do is offend anybody. Although, I do think it is a bit strong to say that I am not fit to wear the uniform, based solely on one comment

but everyone is entitled to their opinion.As these jottings are being written it is

the 1st April and there is no sight of the ‘New Core Day’ which was due to be implemented nationally on the 6th April.

This is actual proof that to bring about wholesale change, it requires the POA to be fully onside. Initially, the Prison Service was reluctant to acknowledge the national failure to agree, saying that it was a local issue. We believe it is not a local issue. It is the biggest wholesale change to our current penal system in a generation. We need to have our best negotiators to debate this and see what the full impact will be. Three nights a week lock up could soon be seven and how many prison officer/prison jobs would then be under threat?

A small number of Kennet staff has recently attended a ‘workshop forum’ held by the Prison Service over the envisaged new ‘Work force Modernisation program’. On their return they were absolutely horrified at what they heard and demanded an emergency POA meeting to discuss it. Basically, Work Force Modernisation is a Prison Service on the cheap, with all posts doing the work of a higher grade, things like OSG‘s on the landings searching etc.

This is exactly why the NEC needs to challenge things nationally, because local division will be exploited by the Service and used against the NEC.

This job in its current form is no longer a job for life.

Moving on to lighter issues; POA Health and Safety Guru Colin Halliday engages in a rather interesting ‘sport’ and yes, you guessed it, it involves sitting down!! Colin spends so much time sat down that he is well on course to consume the chair before the end of the year through metamorphism!! Colin firmly subscribes to the whole culture of H&S with the ethos of ‘if he never leaves his chair then he will remain both healthy and safe’. As you can imagine he is of a somewhat robust physique and his chosen ‘sport’ is Motorised Para Gliding. Surely a ‘sport’ far too dangerous for an H&S Guru!

Prisons were at one time cold, uncompromising, compassion less places before they were made into businesses. I can tell you that this element still remains today following an industrial injury involving a food trolley blowing over in high winds landing on my foot, breaking my big toe!! All everyone did was take the p……. even Tom

Robson rang asking if I had been hit by the Gravy Train, following a recent article I wrote for Gatelodge. Well if you give it.

If any branches have connections with Saga Holidays, Officer John Ratcliffe would be very appreciative of this information, due to his advancing years, which he hopes will save him a few quid!!

On the subject of money it moves us nicely on to Mark Abrahams. Mark Abrahams is an institution of tightness. Infact he is so tight that he not only doesn’t breathe out for fear of wasting it. He doesn’t breathe in either for fear of over doing it!! Recently there were spontaneous gasps in the wing office when he tried to pay his lottery money with an old white five pound note!! Mark, get the kettle on you tight xxxxxx!!

If keenness was a crime then Graeme Jones (ex Risley) would be doing life, He never stops!! A lot of public money was invested in Kennet creating a ‘can do’ culture. Graeme has kindly volunteered to have a web cam fitted to his tie to show it in practice!!

Finally, with the wedding season almost upon us Brian Cockayne has asked us to remind all POA members that he is in a band and is available most Fridays and Saturdays at short notice.

Ian PrescottKennet

Lancaster Farms

I always open these jottings with a bit of a speech about things that don’t sit right with my personal opinion and moralistic approach to life. Even I can’t put to you how the recent events have shocked some members to the core.

The death of a former colleague and POA committee member, Frank Vinnyey, has come as a real shock and a wake up call.

I didn’t really know him but he lived just two streets away. I (as a new starter to the Farms life) was put straight on a few things,

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and I always listened – you had no choice! What I did know was the impact he had on the development of the committee at Lancaster Farms.

I had the pleasure of meeting Professor Charles Elliott, who was commissioned by the Governor as part of the “peoples plan”. I showed him around the unit I work on, gave him some what I liked about life at the Farms and also what made life hard. I was honest, but not negative. He spent three weeks here and interviewed many staff from all over the establishment.

The report he has drafted was one of the best pieces I have seen in the service for a long time. Balanced, accurate and well thought out, taking all sides of the equations. Some of the relevant points mentioned were the empowerment of staff, a culture of allegations and the inconsistencies in adjudication outcomes. With all respect to Charles, it didn’t take a highly educated professor to reach these conclusions.

One member of staff approached me and said what a really nice gentleman he was. When I asked the person their reasoning they replied that Charles Elliott had time for them. He’d listened to them without making judgement, had understood the difficulties faced and, most importantly, was respectful.

I, being uneducated with a bull-in-a-china shop approach, and sometimes tactless, thought (in my pea-like head) that he would make an excellent Governor!

Professor Elliott also presented an alarming conclusion that the de-motivated staff are, by far, outweighed by the positive hard working and dedicated staff we have. This probably goes against the grain especially when we have had so much bad post strike publicity.

By the time our colleagues get the final draft you will know what I mean. I’m sure that if you’re one of the members interviewed by Charles you will want to read the report, which has the full backing of the committee.

I’ve heard on the grapevine that something exiting is happening this year.

Ross Kemp is one of the ‘hard men’ of this country (he learnt his trade by working in the Queen Vic!). This apprenticeship lead him onto one of the best pieces of television of recent times – watching him on the front line in Afghanistan.

News has reached me that he has taken on the biggest role to date in filming “Ross Kemp follows Sean Crossley’s stag do in Benidorm”!

Now surely he has bitten off more than

he can chew on this one? Fighting in Helmand Provence is nothing compared to the 18 ‘generals’ that are going to Spain! I’m expecting to fill the Gatelodge with the exploits in the coming months. I’m sure this event will not pass without incident.

To all those going, enjoy yourself!Talking about Grant Mitchell, our very

own Ross Kemp look alike is now a proud father again. Wes Fish’s partner Natalie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Emma. Now the poor lass will have to fight over the tins of baby food, liquidised chicken and runny porridge. Congratulations Wes, it has been said you’ll do anything for some time off!!

I was dismayed to find out about the resignation of Sally Jordan. I suppose the prospect of having to work for 45 years in the service was too much. Sally talked to me about the way ‘young men’ treated her and how they spoke to women, the way that discipline is questionable. It’s a shame that we are losing someone like her. Luckily she has the sense to go to University and have something fall back on.

Simon Mepstead has also resigned. I didn’t really know him but he seemed a nice bloke. It seems strange the amount of officers that resign now. Maybe the lack of decent pay rises coupled with the total lack of respect in prisons has something to do with it? Another leaver is Paul Clarke who has left for Garth. We had a few chats over Stellas and he actually does smile!

Good luck to you all on your new ventures!

On February 14th I was standing in the yard having a chat with Andy Baines. We were discussing the job and generally laying down a few rights and wrongs when he was approached by Janet from the kitchen. She thrust a Valentine’s card in his hand, and all of a sudden launched into a move that Stone Cold Steve Austin would have been proud of! A ‘Full Nelson’ I believe it’s called?? The poor lad couldn’t move! And then it happened: the lips touched! He turned to me red faced and I promised this episode wouldn’t go any further… Magnetism I think it’s called?

Congratulations are in order for our inclusion into the “World’s Shiniest Floor” competition. Kim and Aggie will be making spot checks into Buttermere 2 in the coming weeks. Officer Lee Sutcliffe, aka ‘Mr Sheen’, has set an example of how to wax floors. It’s the only wing in the estate that you actually have to remove your shoes before you enter.

The sight of him using pro social modelling and buffing all day long brings even a tear to the “dinosaurs” wrinkled and well used eyes. I think the powers that be have rumbled him. Questions are being asked. Is the floor a health risk to eyes? Is he going for a big claim with white finger syndrome? Has the prison run over budget with the purchase of d10? Does he have OCD? Is the floor getting prepped for ‘Dancing on Ice’? Is he using winter green (his favourite massage cream of choice) instead of pine?

All I know is that I have made a mistake. My new trainers have a non marking sole… That’s spoilt my daily wind up.

So, Chris Davis is taking his new job (MAGS – something to do with gangs I’m told, and not the football team), very seriously and has he bitten like a shark into claims his job had been “given away” due to budget cuts. He now seems to dress like a gang member! All he needs to do now is ride around on a BMX and lose a few stone - I mean pounds! – and he’ll fit right in. I’m not going to say anything else as someone close to him has a voodoo doll and I have already felt the wrath of her anger.

Case closed.“We are walking in the air.. We’re walking

in the moonlight sky!” I just can’t get this tune out of my head. It hasn’t got anything to do with Aled Jones or a resemblance to an officer on Buttermere. Just because I sing it doesn’t mean anything.

To the member of the gym who asks me on a monthly basis when his name is going to appear in these jottings, the answer is….Not this month!

Stay safe.J80TDB

Lewes

Fraternal Greetings to all our colleagues in the prison estate from the cobbled streets of Lewes, oh and what a state it’s in! We welcome all our new Officers and hope you settle in well.

IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME.....This is a famous line from a film and

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it will certainly apply to Lewes. However, the only people coming are the prisoners. The staff to care for these poor individuals are not. Spring is in the air and our two new wings which were supposed to open mid April will now open nearly 5 weeks early by order of Gordon Brown himself. We have a profile that is approximately 60 uniformed staff short, so Officer A.N. Other is going to be very busy indeed, chaotic and interesting times lay ahead...we will of course let you know how this farce unfolds.

However, it would be lax of us not to make the following statement: No blame for the current situation can be laid at the door of our Governing Governor. The new build has been an on-going project for at least 18 months. So here we are less than two weeks from opening, and 60 staff short, perhaps those in charge of running the prison service actually did the job they are paid a lot of money to do we would not be in this mess. Sadly they appear more concerned with trying to interfere in, run and ruin this Trade Union; you will not succeed....WE WILL NOT LET YOU!

Lets set the scene: local radio on, cup of tea in hand...advert comes on the radio. ‘Are you in a repetitive job?’....Er...yes...pen must find a pen... ‘Do you want to make a difference?’...Oooo found pen...need paper, find paper...‘Want to do something rewarding?’...Yes...yes I do...‘Do you want to receive a good pension and other benefits?’...Now poised with pen and paper at the ready brimming with anticipation...‘Well find out on what’s on the inside and apply to become a Prison Officer today’. Tears and snot bubbles followed whilst thumbing through the Yellow Pages looking for the Trade Descriptions local office...it shouldn’t be allowed!

We have said goodbye to a few members of the Branch recently and would like to wish them all the best of luck in their future choices. SO Quinnell has left us to join HMP Ford. It has been said that on a clear day with the wind blowing in the right direction she can still be heard from the 4s on C Wing. Also best wishes to former SO Skelton who has made the brave, but very enviable decision to leave the service altogether. Hope it works out well and your new workmates aren’t as foul mouthed as your former.

Congratulations to the following staff who where presented with Long Service Awards by Governor McClennan: Murray, PO Okopski, SO Szczotka, SO Quinnell and Officer Harwood. It is an important

gesture to recognise staff’s work and commitment to the service, all very well deserved. Long may it continue.

An apologyWe must apologise for our overly optimistic take on the ‘badge’ issue. This is an employer that expects our full co-operation on the future Work Force Reform. Well, you reap what you sow, so shall you reap. There are big battles ahead with our employer and we MUST stand together and fight for our future. We may not win but IF WE GO DOWN, WE GO DOWN FIGHTING TOGETHER.

On a lighter note we would like to announce the formation of the HMP Lewes motorcycle stunt display team. SO Groves along with Officers’ Price and Wade will be appearing at local fetes throughout the summer following a successful debut in Bournemouth several weeks ago!

Officer Stokes will shortly begin writing his book entitled ‘How to make new friends by sharing a film’ and Officer ‘calling out to any astrals’ West who will be filming his own episode of Ghost Hunting. It will star himself and absolutely no spirits, ghosts or astral beings whatsoever....get a life Westy!

It would appear that there is a ‘spice thief’ in our midst we’re sure they will turmeric up if not there will be a hot chilli pursuit!

We would like to welcome Officer Johnson on to the Branch Committee following recent Branch Elections and congratulate Officer Fry who was re-elected at the same time. Please support your Committee and work with them, they need you as much as you need them.

Thoughts and best wishes go out to those off sick; we are here if you need us.

Until the next time, take care of each other because no other bugger will...

The Rooks’ Nest

Littlehey

Hello from Littlehey,Firstly for those that has left good

luck in your new careers and, to those who have joined us welcome. Our No 1 has left, our loss is Highpoints gain, and as yet no news on his replacement, there are a lot of names being put about. Confusion exists at present here as we have rolled out self rostering, well sort of rolled it out 52% on it and 48% still on a shift pattern equals total confusion. Still with the management sorting it out it can only lead to utter confusion.

After attending the meeting at the TUC our members feel we need to be pushing for further action, as we seem to have lost momentum from last years day of action. We could end up losing jobs, be given poor three year pay deals and have OSGs doing more than patrol officer in our evening patrol state. The prison road shows seems to be painting doom and gloom and, then asking what would it take to get their proposals in if the POA was to reject the prison proposals and a ballot was called for. Well from what we are hearing staff are again willing to sell themselves. I have heard figures of a 37 hour week, a one off payment of between £1000–£1500 and a 12%, 3 year pay deal. Throw in the old chestnut ‘verse’ and staff will queue up to vote away the erosion of their jobs.

We have been informed of an increase to our population of twenty more places but to cover this we can have CSH for three officers hours. So is doubling up the new way forward, or is this one of Jack’s short term plans?

We have reached a critical time here at Littlehey. The Fantasy Football League is coming to the end and, with money up for grabs as we go to print, a night out at the ‘dogs’ is happening for all the members of the Fantasy League Committee. The cheating and back stabbing is rife. Sounds a bit like a SMT/ POA meeting.

It has come to the Editor’s notice that a twenty four hour guard has been manned by the PEIs. Yes, those in shorts, on the football and rugby pitches to prevent Dave Roswell and the inside gardens crew from creating even more flower beds. It would appear that our Dave cannot stand the sight of any piece of open grass that does not contain a flower bed full of his signature pansies. Keep digging Dave.

Anybody with anything for the jottings please send to usual e/mail.

Rough Jenny

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Parkhurst

Firstly, a big welcome to 7 new staff! Yep, that is correct, it’s not a misprint!! Graham Sadler, Ollie Janvrin from Parkhurst, Adam Harrison from Albany (all converted from OSG group), and Mark Waldren, Christopher Lee, Julie Riley and Lisa Pullin (from admin) a big welcome to you all and enjoy your time at Parkhurst. So it seems that the vacancies are being filled quite rapidly now.

Congratulations to Keith Ross on passing his SO board, good luck in your new position.

We also say a sad farewell to two members of staff: Jerry Vale, who has gone to Winchester, apparently it’s very quiet there!! So he informs me!! I hope you enjoy it. I’m sure you will! You will be sadly missed.

We also say a fond farewell to Terry Brown, who after 33 years service has decided to hang up his keys. Terry joined the service in January 1974 at HMP Haverigg. He came to Parkhurst in 1992 and worked in the kitchens, the latter part as an SO and reverted to discipline in March 1999. You will be sorely missed and we all hope you have a great retirement, on the golf course I hear!!

Both had farewell ‘dos’ which were very well supported by staff.

Just a small ditty this monthThe works department had a big meeting with the cluster team and required the lap top and projector. On the morning of the presentation I got a phone call from one of the Governors in the works department panicking saying he couldn’t get the projector to work. On investigating the matter I solved the problem. It helps if you plug it in!!!

It’s with great sadness I have to report the sudden death of Michael “Josh” Armstrong after a very short illness. He will be greatly missed by all as a colleague, friend and brilliant officer, and from the amount of e-mails and phone calls of sympathy we have received from other establishments he will be miss by colleagues elsewhere.

All messages that have been received have been passed on to Pam, which were gratefully received. His funeral was attended by at least 150 family, staff, friends and ex colleagues from the mainland attending. What was amazing to see and it would have made Josh laugh, was how many officers’ barathea uniforms had strangely shrunk in the wash!! I know Pam and the family appreciated the support.

Josh was at Parkhurst for over 7 years, previously working at Feltham. He worked on B and G initially then he moved to security. I have included some quotes from the eulogy given at his funeral, from his time in security:

“We remember Josh saying things on the radio net not realising he still had the button pressed down for all to hear, I believe it was a naval term, something to do with an anchor!”

“The security staff are all concerned that they may now put on weight, now that Josh will not be there to eat all the Christmas chocolates!”

“We remember how, whilst Walking the Wight, he had an amazing ability to remove his underpants without removing his trousers, and not even breaking his stride!”

Above all Josh was a devoted husband, a loyal brother, a rock to his children and a really devoted Grandad.

God bless you Josh, you will be greatly missed. Sierra 4, you have permission to leave the net.

Back to work issues. I don’t usually write controversial issues but I feel it needs raising to see if other branches have experienced the same problem.

Recently a member of staff, who had been off sick for a week received an email from the SSC informing them that because no paper work had been returned by their line manager regarding their sick absence, their pay was going to be stopped! One, this is outrageous because the person going sick is not responsible for getting the return to work forms so they are being penalised by a pay stoppage. Secondly, is it legal to stop someone’s pay? Thirdly if the SSC sent the forms to the right person and not someone with the same name in the north of England, maybe the forms would have been filled in and returned? The person concerned emailed the SSC to find out what was going on, but still has not received a reply or an apology. Bring back the local Personnel departments for human contact.

The Rat

Send

We, at Send, have a new Governor in post.Mr. Harnett has already improved industrial

relations with the local committee and also staff morale in the short period of time that he has been with us. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Well, 2008 and 2009 will be extremely difficult with the financial cutbacks. We should be having a new wing opening anytime, but no staff in post to manage it. The management is looking at detached duty but we will wait and see, as one thing it does not give is long term stability. Yet another example of crisis management! The Prison Service can afford to pay up to £500 per week in hotel costs, subs and travel expenses for staff on detached duty. However, at the same time refuse to pay a decent rate of overtime. It appears that someone at Prison Service head quarters needs to have a reality check.

Being involved in the recent area officer JSAC it has been detected that the Surrey prisons are not getting enough candidates. Most importantly the poor quality of candidates and the low standards set by the Prison Service to recruit leaves much to be desired. The cost of living also highlights this as even the key worker scheme will not help people to get on the property ladder. It appears that the Carter Report recommends the reintroduction of market testing of public sector prisons. When will these people realise that private sector prisons are not safe and extremely dangerous? Above all it is living of immoral earnings. They say crime does not pay, yet it makes profit for the fat cat private sector companies and their shareholders. And all of this is allowed to happen under a Labour Government!

It also appears that the Government is happy with the appeasement approach and not the rehabilitation approach in tackling crime. How about changing to a zero tolerance approach? The Government should employ Sheriff Joe Arpaio from Arizona, who invented Tent City, as the next Director General of the Prison Service. Now there is a man who knows what he is doing and what needs to be done. The

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Government should give him an offer he could not refuse. Instead we will probably get the Chief Executive of Butlins (we can all live in hope that this does not happen)!

Next time you visit your local B&Q store, observe the staff uniform. Do the black fleece jackets and base ball caps look familiar?

Also, the changing of the Senior Officer title to Team Leader is another example of future plans of running a retail working environment model (aka – workforce modernisation). We might as well call ourselves HMP Argos!!

I would like to say goodbye to SO Mark Nunnerly, and SO Angie Stobbart, who are leaving us for HMP Coldingley: good luck.

We still have a few colleagues on long-term sick, who we wish a speedy recovery.

Lastly I would like to thank Brian Traynor, Pete Chapple, PJ McParlin and also the Wandsworth POA committee for all their help, advice and guidance over the last three years.

I would also just like to strongly recommend that all union reps pursue the TUC union rep courses. To sum them up in one word: invaluable.

A special thanks also to my TUC lecturer, Ade Philips at West Thames College.

I have seen this branch and, most importantly, the local committee grow from strength to strength. Keep up the good work.

Live long and prosper. Unity is strength – keep the faith!

Lak DosanjhBranch ChairHMP Send

Shrewsbury

I start these jottings by welcoming on board our happy little ship Officer Philip Milne from Liverpool, and welcoming back Officer Natalie Alderwick from maternity leave. We also welcome back PO Trevor Beeston. Two words sum up what caused your illness, Trev: ‘stitch up’. Enough said.

We say farewell and good luck to Officer Hightower (Neil Bailey) who has left the service to work with his brother. You were always a pleasure to work with Neil and the

‘ghost story’ will always remain with me. Good luck.

Also leaving us for pastures new is Senior Officer Mark Supersad on his way up north. Good luck Mark.

Congratulations to Mark Harrison on his in-situ promotion to Senior Officer. Well earned and deserved Mark. For those currently acting up and seeking promotion – good luck. Also good luck to the OSGs currently working towards achieving their NVQ award.

And, to any staff off sick at the moment, get well soon and to any who have recently returned, welcome back.

Towards the end of February it was announced to the staff at Shrewsbury that our Deputy Governor was leaving to join the Australian Prison Service. I don’t want to dwell on this subject too much but, upon hearing this news, the majority of staff were seen doing the conga through the centre of the town, and everyone was putting buntings out to celebrate. I believe some members of the SMT enjoyed a very good ‘leaving do’, but from what I gather basic grades enjoyed you leaving more.

Towards the end of this particular Deputy Governor’s reign I think he was starting to realise his mistakes and how he hadn’t communicated to the staff properly. However it was much, much too late. What staff now need to do now he’s gone is get back to supporting each other and, once again, reach those high standards we were once proud of, and were recognised throughout the service for achieving. We all know Shrewsbury is a good prison: the staff know it, the management know it and even the prisoners acknowledge that they are treated better at Shrewsbury than in most other Cat ‘B’ local establishments. So lets all work together and bring back the happier times.

On a lighter note I think I should mention an incident I recently heard about, which happened a few years ago to Officer Paul King, when he was working along side our local police force, prior to him joining the Prison Service. Apparently, Paul was assisting the ‘bobbies’ dealing with some drunken, abusive and disruptive adults in the Shrewsbury area, when he had cause to put hands on a female. The female in question was apparently of average height/build and wearing a low cut top and was approaching Paul shouting abuse. Paul, not being the tallest of men, was shocked as she approached him and as he turned round to push her away, he put both hands on her breasts! In sheer shock at what he had done he stepped back, not

realising that behind him was a concrete waste bin. Paul fell into the bin with his rear end first leaving just his upper body sticking out and getting himself stuck with his hands and feet waiving about. The woman fell about laughing and walked away. Good skills Paul – I bet they don’t teach that at the training school?!

Officer Phil Breeze, again, appears to be getting himself in the news. One of his colleagues informs me that Phil recently started to get wound up whilst working on ‘C’ wing when a prisoner he was shouting at totally ignored him. Phil shouted again but, again, he was ignored. Then came the cry: “Boss, he’s deaf!” D’oh! Sorry Phil, but this came from your so-called ‘friends’.

Just as I was about to send these jottings to press I was informed about the dancing skills of ‘twinkle toes’, Trevor Thomas. Whilst watching a comedian on stage at the local music hall, Trev was picked out to get up on stage. His routine certainly brought a smile to the faces of the many off duty prison staff who tell me that they will never look at Trevor in the same way again. 10 ot of 10 Trev!

As we are all aware Shrewsbury, along with all other establishments in the country, are striving towards a new core day. This is going to have major changes for the way we all operate at Shrewsbury and all I can say to you all is times are changing, so let’s change with them. It’s not going to be easy and at times it’s not going to be pleasant but we are all in this together. Let’s get back to working as a team and remember security and staff safety are paramount. If in doubt, ask!

Any gossip to me in security.

PC

Stafford

Greetings once again from Stafford. Our sincerest fraternal salutations go out to you and our best wishes and thoughts to our colleagues on long term sick, and especially those who, for what ever reason, are unable to be on the landings at present.

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Firstly our commiserations must go to our branch secretary, Tony Merricks, who was unsuccessful in his attempt to gain National Office. In my slightly biased point of view, we as an Association have missed a golden opportunity to have an experienced, straight talking and hard working new NEC Committee member on our side. But, I guess that’s democracy in action. Maybe a transfer to HMP Liverpool might swing the vote next time (only joking!)?

Our Committee here have just completed negotiations with the Governor and his SMT in relation to the ‘Stafford Sixty’ project, which entails increasing our CNA by sixty prisoners. With this comes extra staff and resources, and in the current climate of cost cutting and savings that’s a job well done. It’s nice to see some fresh, young, eager faces walking around the place, that we experienced staff can mould into someone just as bitter and cynical as the rest of us!

Personal congratulations must be extended to Paul Cooper who has taken the step up the ladder and has moved to Drake Hall on promotion. All the best Big Man.

While I’m on the subject of promotion, Stoke fans are getting very bouncy – especially the life long fanatics who have crept out of the woodwork now that they’ve won a couple of matches. As it looks like they might get a crack at the Premiership, please keep an eye on ‘Match of the Day’ in future and see if you can spot the psychos from here singing “Delilah”. In particular, The Big ‘N Daft One, and The Scary One from the ‘Hills Have Eyes’ (yes, that’s you Dawsie)!

Just a quick note for Ian Taylor – Whit doesn’t think you’re funny; in fact having somebody uglier than him in the establishment has done his ego a power of good!

The next time of writing should be after the national rugby tournament, so anyone who is going should keep an eye out for the names on the back of the white shirts.

Big Bob is off at the moment so our best wishes go to him for a speedy recovery and, along with Ian Black, his presence will be looked forward to by everyone who is going.

See you next time,The Tea Boy

The Mount

Hello to one and all from the HMPS freefall prison.

Welcome to all new staff and those who have transferred in, a special welcome to Officer “Polly” who finds life at The Mount so SWEET and enjoyable.

It is now becoming a little warmer and the dreaded TANKTOP is being aired by too many staff (now I have said this, have I opened a can of worms??

Louise J recently forgot she was married and that she now had a new surname, when checking the next days detail noticed Officer ….. name on the detail, she goes home and tells hubby he is working tomorrow. He replies “I’m on a rest day”, but he obeys his beloved and joins her in attending work the next day. It is only then that Louise realises that it is her name on the detail NOT her husbands!

Dave “I love my tank top” Reeder has been moved into the CRM. As he has no hair to pull out he may attack his beloved tank top??

Jim W recently attended an OASYS course at Stirling House. At the end of the first day he agreed to follow a colleague’s car to the hotel, but as with most mentally challenged people Jim followed the wrong car and ended up the other side of Newmarket before he realised his mistake. Definitely NOT a pathfinder.

We have now completed another regular outing to Campsfield House DC to clear up another private company attempt of looking after people in custody; it will not be long till we are given our own parking place.

As with most branches we are having minor disputes with our SMT reference staffing, WLB, etc. I noticed that the DG states that serious assaults on staff have NOT increased, well DG come to The Mount and I will show you several staff that have been seriously assaulted.

Bob Baker is back at work, welcome back mate you were really missed by everyone.

Jim Wylie is our new Chairman; I

wonder how many staff will be saying “Oh my God”? A big thank you to Matt Tomlin for all his hard work over the years, and he will continue on as a committee member.

Mad Dog

Wandsworth

On a different theme, our staff suspensions here now total 10 and, although 2 are a Police matter, the rest are still in suspension land with slow progress in the investigations. The shortage of Committee members is now causing a problem for hearing dates and allocating work to the remaining members.

We had a visit from the Minister for Justice, Jack Straw and some time was given to talk to the trade unions. Questions about workplace reform were asked but the cash sum for this work was not revealed.

The Prison Service College, Wandsworth has seen new group of Officers start their careers. Some of the previous newly recruited Officers have yet to join the POA and if you really believe it can’t happen to you perhaps you would like to talk to the suspended staff?

Collectively, work is proving difficult to progress with the lack of reps to take the lead in areas such as profiling and the new E wing proposals.

Our presence at the local Battersea and Wandsworth TUC is generally good but the work is better shared. We are part of the wider trade union movement and we will need their help in our fight to regain our trade union rights. If the POA is to become better at organising then local trade councils are the best way of finding out how to campaign. Their experience and offers of help will be given to any branch, should it be requested.

In keeping with the constant request of meeting MPs, myself and Chairman Jim Shaw attended a social event at my local Labour Party, with Dennis Skinner as the guest of honour. Dennis had a collection of

12-25 branch news.indd 24 21/4/08 11:22:23

Branch News

25May 2008

funny stones and as he is unlikely to become Prime Minister, he didn’t worry too much about what he was saying. The irony of the evening was that Dennis supported us in the vote on 127 and my local MP did not! We gave Dennis our new badge with thanks.

Problems with pay? 28 days’ notice for employment tribunal proceedings should help sort the problem out.

Our Branch Chair, Jim Shaw, was unsuccessful in his bid for the NEC but congratulations to Steve Baines, Pete McParlin, Steve Bostock, Brian Traynor and Joe Simpson.

I see from the so-called pay award, my council tax and home fuel bills have gone up by more than 2%. The Pay Review Body needs to be a bit more alert and see if their household bills have gone up. Perhaps we could send them a questionnaire one year?

I would have liked to have seen the Local Pay Allowance increase and could not understand the logic of yet another freeze, especially as members of parliament claim they need at least an extra £160 a day to live and work in London! The Olympic tax impacting Londoners obviously hasn’t reached the information gatherers from the Pay Review Body, perhaps they’re not paying it? On this cheerful note, I’ll close.

Stewart McLaughlin, Branch secretary

Winchester

Greetings colleagues, from sunny old Winchester.

I would like to say a very fond farewell to the following staff on their retirement:

SO Bernie Newland – one of the nicest guys you could ever have the privilege to work with. Bernie started here at Winchester then transferred to Coldingley on promotion, then came back

to Winchester as a Senior Officer. Cheers Bernie, we miss the good old laughs. Oh, and when you were my SO, thanks for telling ‘porkies’ on my SPDR and saying I was capable of doing the job!

Goodbye also to good old Ken Wood, another top guy. Ken started at Lewes but then did a ‘dodgy deal’ swap with someone (he was always good for telling that old story, but of course I will not name the ‘someone’, to protect their innocence).

To Dave Casey, who I have no doubt will be spending even more time down at the famous old Brooklands race track. Someone said they were convinced Dave was there in the 1920s and 1930s when the Bentley Boys were racing round.

Next a bit of strange one, a big goodbye and, at the same time, a big welcome to PO Ivan Mackrill. Finished on a Friday and started again the following Monday. Only this time dressed in civvies as work prep tutor.

Now to the arrivalsA warm welcome to Keilan Bond on transfer from Feltham; he has settled in here very well (Felthams loss and our definite gain). On a similar note, welcome back to Ged Dale, back from Highdown. Also welcome back to Andy Scott returning from Reading. I guess it’s true that the grass is not always greener. Also, big Winchester welcomes to SO Steve Bolton from Blakenhurst, Officer Neil Hosking from Wetherby, and Officer Gerry Vale from Parkhurst – you are all very welcome and surely needed.

A very big well done to PEO Alan Gawthorpe, who recently foiled an escape attempt by a ‘trusted prisoner’ (?) from Westhill. Alan was taking a gym session and whilst returning back to Westhill the individual made a bid for freedom, but Alan foiled this serious attempt. Superb, well done! It was good to see the area manager justly rewarded his actions with a commendation. We are all very proud of you Alan.

Also, two other area managers’ commendations went to Andy Ross and Tina Wade who foiled an attempt by another prisoner who attempted to escape via reception by assuming the identity of an inmate who was legitimately due for release. Again, top class and well done!

We, as all establishments, are facing the dreaded ‘Core Day’ and its subsequent proposed profile. We have been informed of the plan to loose one Senior Officer, two Officers and an OSG. The branch committee here will fight this move to the last line of defence. This is, yet again, an attack on those who work on the ‘front

line’. Every individual on this committee is working flat out, and we need to attack this with FACTS. I think the management have seen more requests for information over the last few days than in the rest of their service.

One sad but true fact: I asked the Governor who did the proposed profile, “Can you clearly define the tasks involved in ‘wing duties’?” To my total shock his reply was: “Umm, well, no..” All branches, please check that your management are not overloading you with, what they describe (and use as a ‘cover all’) as, WING DUTIES!

Ok, confession time..I have a mobile phone and, like most people, I have customised it a little. For example, my ring tone is that old classic ‘Duelling Banjos’ from that good old classic film, ‘Deliverance’. My text tone is “Message, messaaaage” which increases in volume (i.e. it starts off soft then increases in volume and desperation). Obviously, you can stop it at any time by pressing ‘unlock’ and pushing the ‘open’ button – just like any normal mobile phone.

Steve Merrett and I attended the recent POA Special Delegates meeting at Congress House in London. We were sat there intently listening to Steve Gillan articulately speaking about item 2 of the agenda, when – yes, you guessed it: “Message, messaage, messsaage, messssaaaaage!” starts wailing from my phone! As the volume increases poor Steve Gillan is upping his volume, trying to out-shout the darn thing!

Picture this: I’m fighting like an idiot to unlock the phone and shut the thing up; Steve Merrett is beating me about the head with the biggest Sudoku book in the world hissing, “Turn it off! Turn It OFF!”, and I’m hissing back, “What do think I’m trying to do??!” whilst the whole delegation bursts into laughter.

Why me?!The joke of it all was the message was

in fact to tell me I had missed a call from none other than Pete Chapple. Where’ s the justice in that?!

My humble apologies go to Steve Gillan, Colin Moses and the rest of the delegation, but in mitigation and my defence it was Pete Chapple’s fault!

To all those currently away from work for whatever reason, we wish you all well and a speedy return – you are, as always, missed and surely needed.

Martin ColeWinchester

12-25 branch news.indd 25 21/4/08 11:22:30

26 Gatelodge

Levy & McRae:Working for You

Levy & McRae:Working for youOur services to members of the Prison Officer Association of ScotlandIn addition to what is covered by the policy we also offer the following:-• Free will drafting service• Discounted conveyancing service• Discounted advice following the breakdown of a relationship• Advice provided 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Recent successes:•£24,000 received by officer after trip at work • Acquittal of Officer on serious assault charges after 3 day trial• Prison Officer’s wife gained settlement in a constructive dismissal claim

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Litigation departmentCarolyn Macbride

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Callum AndersonAlan O’Dowd

Jillian McKenzieRoss Milvenan

Ewen CampbellMark Dunn

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Commercial departmentAlistair Goodman

Maureen StevensonGeraldine Smith

Peter ReidDavid Adams

North of the Border - Levy & McRae

Thank youColleagues,I would like to thank all those members who have supported me in the recent election for the Scottish National Committee.

I appreciate the trust and confidence you have placed in me and I vow to continue to fight for you, the member. I have been elected to represent you and I promise I will never forget that.

I would especially like to thank all my colleagues at Barlinnie who have suffered me for the past 21 years. A special thanks to the local branch committees over the years, and I would like to place my personal thanks and gratitude to Willie Carle for his patience and friendship, without which I doubt whether I would have been able to continue on this rocky road.

I look forward to the new challenge of being on the Scottish National Committee and working with (along with others) the local branch representatives for Dumfries, Greenock and Shotts.Thank You,

Gordon Pike

Thank youDear Colleagues,I have recently been elected to the Scottish National Committee. I would like to thank those who kindly voted me into this post. I have gained a 1 year interim post, to which I will give all my attention and effort, as I did at HMP Glenochil as Branch Secretary.

The down side of this is I have had to leave HMP Glenochil, where I have had many good years with some great staff. I’d like to thank the staff and the local branch committee at Glenochil for their support and I’m sure they’ll continue to stand firmly behind John (No Drama’s) Devine.Ta!

Phil Thomas

26-29 NOTB.indd 26 21/4/08 11:23:19

What is bullying at work?Bullying at work is when someone tries to intimidate another worker, often in front of colleagues. It’s usually, though not always, done to someone in a less senior position.

It’s similar to harassment, which is where someone’s behaviour is offensive – for example, making sexual comments, or abusing someone’s race, religion or sexual orientation.

It’s not possible to make a legal claim directly about bullying, but complaints can be made under laws covering discrimination and harassment. If you’re forced to resign due to bullying you can make a constructive dismissal claim.

Examples of bullying behaviour:Bullying includes abuse, physical or verbal violence, humiliation and undermining someone’s confidence. You are probably being bullied if, for example, you’re:• constantly picked on • humiliated in front of colleagues • regularly unfairly treated • physically or verbally abused • blamed for problems caused by others • always given too much to do, so that

you regularly fail in your work • regularly threatened with the sack • unfairly passed over for promotion or

denied training opportunities Bullying can be face-to-face, in writing,

over the phone or by fax or email.

Before taking action..If you think you're being bullied, its best to talk it over with someone, because what seems like bullying might not be. For example, you might have more work to do because of a change in the way your organisation is run. If you find it difficult to cope, talk to your manager or supervisor, who might be as concerned as you are. Sometimes all it takes is a change in the way you work to give you time to adjust.

What to do if you’re bullied at workEmployers have a 'duty of care' to their employees and this includes dealing with bullying at work. There are measures you can take if you're being bullied.

Get adviceSpeak to someone about how you might deal with the problem informally. This might be:• an employee representative like a trade

union official • someone in the firms human resources

department • your manager or supervisor Some employers have specially trained staff to help with bullying and harassment problems they’re sometimes called 'harassment advisers'. If the bullying is affecting your health, visit your GP.

Talk to the bullyThe bullying may not be deliberate. If you can, talk to the person in question, who may not realise how their behaviour has been affecting you. Work out what to say beforehand. Describe what has been happening and why you object to it. Stay calm and be polite. If you don't want to talk to them yourself, ask someone else to do so for you.

Keep a written record or diaryWrite down details of every incident and keep copies of any relevant documents.

Making a formal complaintThis is the next step if you can’t solve the problem informally. To do this you must follow your employer's grievance

procedure, or if one doesn’t exist you can use the statutory grievance procedure.

Some awkward situations:The bully is your manager, but the firm's grievance procedure says it is your manager who you should speak toMake the complaint in writing to your line manager and ask that it’s passed on to another manager to look into. If that doesn’t happen or isn’t possible, make the complaint to your boss’s manager, or the Human Resources department.

The person bullying you is a sole trader or the firm's managing director or ownerFollow the grievance procedure. It may help you later if you have to take legal action against your employer.

Your boss is violent and abusive towards you and you're afraid to make a complaintIf you think that making a complaint will cause further bullying or harassment, you don’t need to follow normal grievance procedures. In cases like this, you can still then take legal action if you wish.

What about taking legal action?Sometimes the problem continues even after you've followed your employer's grievance procedure. If nothing is done to put things right, you can think about legal action, which may mean going to an employment tribunal. Get professional advice before taking this step. Remember that it's not possible to go to a tribunal directly over bullying, but complaints can be made under laws covering discrimination and harassment. If you've left your job because of bullying, you might be able to claim unfair 'constructive' dismissal. This can be difficult to prove, so it's important to get advice from a specialist lawyer or other professional.

North of the Border

27May 2008

Bullying In The WorkplaceNobody should have to put up with bullying at work. However it is evident that it does happen and everyone should know how to deal with bullying when it occurs.

26-29 NOTB.indd 27 24/4/08 09:59:36

North of the Border

28 Gatelodge

Dear Kenny,Thank you for your letter dated 14 January 2008. We warmly welcome your assurance, and the speed with which you provided it, in relation to the re-application of section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in England and Wales.

While we remain concerned and extremely disappointed at the steps being taken against our colleagues in England and Wales, we are pleased that the different relationships and positive industrial relations climate in Scotland has been recognised in this way. We will of course communicate to our TUS colleagues in the SPS, the content of your announcement, where I am sure it will be received in the same way.

As you have stated in your letter, you are aware that SPS management and ourselves have begun consideration of the forward budget and efficiency savings required under the spending review. I feel compelled to say that this trade union have always engaged in partnership with SPS management over the issue of savings, and have been very proactive in trying to identify savings within our current budget arrangements. We will of course continue to cooperate with management in partnership, to see where we think savings can be found within this latest initiative.

It would be remiss of me not to take this opportunity to state, that while we are happy to contribute to the savings initiative, in an attempt to realise the sums required, we remain concerned over the scope and flexibility for those sums to be found from within the front line staffing group within the SPS. That concern is not simply based on this staff group being by and large our membership. This particular group have been the main focus for savings in the past years, and it is our view

there is very little scope to reduce front line numbers any further, even with the introduction of new build prisons, without seriously starting to impact on the safety, security and effectiveness of our prison regimes. Please be reassured that those concerns will not prevent us from continuing to work with management in partnership, to find ways in which we can meet the spending limits faced by the SPS in the coming years.

Finally, I would hope that you are aware of the genuine response from ourselves and our membership in relation to the announcements you have made with regard to prisons and prison staff since coming to office. The commitment and positive support you have demonstrated up to this point has been a significant morale boost to the members of this union, and I have copied in a motion we have sent to the STUC for this years agenda, that you may be interested in.

We would look forward to continuing a positive relationship with both yourself and the Scottish Government, and of course continuing to work successfully in partnership with the SPS board and management.Yours sincerelyDavid Melrose

Dear David,Thank you for your letter of 25 January 2008. As I indicated previously, our faith in partnership working and our commitment to positive modern industrial relations meant that I had no hesitation in rejecting Jack Straw’s offer for Section 127 to be re-applied to public sector prison officers in Scotland. My wider consideration of the issues raised by the approach made by Jack Straw highlighted to me a number of concerns. In particular, that the power to legislate on this matter is wholly reserved to

Westminster. This means that in the absence of an effective alternative, the UK Government could at some time in the future apply this legislation to public sector prison officers in Scotland regardless of the employment relations climate in Scotland or the wishes of Scottish Ministers. While Jack Straw’s approach to consult with me earlier this year was appreciated, he need not have made it and his successors are not bound by any convention to do so going forward.

I understand that Mike Ewart, SPS Chief Executive, relayed these concerns to the SPS Trade Union Side and indicated that it was our intention to enter into dialogue with the UK Government to seek to improve the Scottish position in this regard. I understand from Mike that the SPS TUS were fully supportive of these intentions. I am pleased to be able to tell you that we have been successful in negotiating an improved position with the UK Government on this matter. The amendments required to the Bill to achieve this outcome have been tabled by the UK Government. Scottish Prison Service officials have been in contact with Derek Turner, POA Full Time Officer, in order to provide the detail of how the amendments will work with regard to the Bill as it proceeds through the House of Lords.

In summary, although Section 127 remains a matter reserved to Westminster and could be re-applied by UK Ministers to public sector prison officers in Scotland by means of a Commencement Order, UK Ministers have confirmed that they will only do this if they receive a direct request to do so from Scottish Ministers. Clearly, based on my previous statements regarding the Scottish Government’s commitment to the SPS VIRA and Partnership Agreement, I have no intention of making a request of UK

Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill Colleagues, please see below copies of recent correspondence between Davie Melrose and Kenny MacAskill

26-29 NOTB.indd 28 21/4/08 11:34:10

North of the Border

29May 2008

Ministers to apply this legislation in Scotland. I trust that you will welcome this latest development as further demonstration of that commitment. Once the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill receives Royal Assent, public sector prison officers in Scotland will remain the only group of prison officers in the UK to whom Section 127 does not apply. While I note your concern and disappointment that this legislation is being re-applied to your colleagues in England and Wales, from the perspective of Scotland, this is nevertheless further evidence of the success of our partnership working arrangements of which we should quite rightly be proud.

I welcome the commitment set out in your letter to work in partnership with management to find ways in which to operate within the spending limits faced by the SPS. I understand that constructive discussions have taken place to that end. I also note what you say regarding your concerns about the scope for efficiency savings to be realised from within front line services. As you know, no part of our

public service is exempt from the tough financial challenges and it will be for SPS management working in partnership with trade union partners to work through how best the required savings may be delivered. In this regard, and as I have demonstrated in my recent announcements on new prisons to be operated by SPS, I have every confidence that SPS will deliver.

Finally, I was pleased to note the content of the motion that you have put forward for this year’s STUC Conference and I look forward to continuing our positive and constructive relationship. Yours sincerely Kenny Macaskill

Scottish National Committee ElectionsDue to the sad and untimely death of the Scottish Vice Chair, Kenny Cassels, a vacancy for the post arose and Phil Fairlie was elected, unopposed, into the position. This resulted another vacant position and an election was run in tandem with this year’s annual election.

The results were as follows:-G. Pike 760 (elected for five year term)P. Thomas 703 (elected for 1 year interim post)T. McMurray 658A. Golightly 564I. Welsh 508T. Doig 214

Our congratulations to the successful candidates and our commiserations to the others.

Mr Thomas will take up the vacant post as soon as is practical. Mr Pike will take up post after the Annual Conference in May.

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26-29 NOTB.indd 29 23/4/08 13:43:54

30 Gatelodge

gat30.indd 2 23/4/08 15:44:48

Test the Prison In partnership, the POA and the Prison Service are bringing the initiative test ‘test the prison’ to all establishments. The scheme involves encouraging and facilitating the workforce to take mini-skills assessment, this will then give not only an overview of the levels of Maths and English within the workforce, but will also identify individuals with a skills need. POA Learning will then offer quality information, advice and guidance and open up opportunities to access learning and develop themselves both professionally and personally.

Dates for each establishment will be agreed with the Prison Service, POA Learning, Governor and branch committee in advance and the event will be heavily published. The sessions will be confidential with a ULR; individual results will be kept private by POA Learning. The prison service will be issued with anonymous copies of the results; this will provide them with an overview of the levels of literacy and numeracy in the service. POA learning will use the results and follow up potential learners to up skill staff.

All those who take part of the mini skills check will be entered into a prize draw. We are looking to engage as many staff as possible in these events. If you are interested in bringing the ‘test the prison’ to your establishment, contact us

The first event took place at Haverigg on Wednesday 27th February 2008. Approximately 170 prison staff were on duty on the day of campaign.

The team of 15 consisted of POA Learning staff, branch officials, ULR’s, Prison Service staff, and individuals from the TUC, Move Up and NIACE.

The team were available to give quality Information Advice and Guidance (IAG). Prison staff were also invaluable in escorting the teams to different parts of the prison.

127 staff voluntarily took part in the skills checks. All were entered into a draw for prizes of £100 and £50 shopping vouchers donated by the Prison Service and the Governor Clive Chatterton. Clive was also one of the willing participants of the skills check and sat it alongside POA Learning Centre Manager Pete France.

The results where good with the majority of staff performing between Levels 1 and 2 (equivalent in level to a GCSE), many of the staff did not have qualifications in literacy and numeracy and were encouraged to attend the learning centre and sign up to up skilling and taking their National Test. This will be followed through by the POA Learning Centre staff.

Laura Boyd POA Learning

May 2008

ULF learning at work

31

31 ULF.indd 31 21/4/08 11:34:46

Postbag

32 Gatelodge

Colleagues,

This year a Labour government are reintroducing Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public order Act 1994. The act and section that prevents prison officers and members of the POA taking industrial action, for what ever reason.

This is in direct violation of the promises they made whilst in Government opposition, there is video evidence to show this from any of the national and international press you care to mention.

After all their false promises we now have a labour government who are re introducing anti trade union laws, laws they tried to stop when they were originally introduced by the Conservative government of the 1990s.Perhaps I was hasty by calling this government a Labour government.

I find it hard to believe that a party that was conceived out of working class ethics should now turn on its own grass roots.

Colleagues let us be under no illusion, NO Government, Labour or Conservative, in the foreseeable future is going to let us demonstrate our trade union rights to industrial action.

By just reading about the majority that reintroduced the Bill is proof that both sides of the House of Commons are afraid of the power we demonstrated on the 29th August 2007, it proves that we do not have enough influence throughout the House of Commons to change ideals or make promises honoured by our MP`s who we voted into power under false pretences.

It is all well and good saying we will continue to fight for our union rights but it is time to face the truth, wake up and smell the coffee. We a trade union, that took industrial action, whether it be legal or not, scared the mighty Labour Government, we had support from ALL over the country from every corner of the UK, but what did we do with that national support, it appears to me and my peers throughout the service nothing. Our PR image ZERO. We have no PR image, it is time to sign up a professional PR company on our behalf to improve our PR image, and raise our issues to the public throughout the land.

We must learn to work along side our sister unions the PCS, the Fire Brigade Unions, The Royal College of Nursing, the Police Federation, etc.

Unity is strength If we talk together we can make this Government sit up and listen, we proved we could make them listen to us after the 29th August 2007. Imagine how they would shake in their boots if we had up to a further 6 or 7 trade unions/federations joining us in a coordinated action or even a threat of coordinated action.

Colleagues let us warn our colleagues in the Fire Brigade Union once they have confirmed Section 127 is in place, and that we cannot take industrial action, they will come after you with the same sort of legislation regarding public safety etc.

If we are to be put into the same restrictions on industrial actions as our colleagues in the Police Federation, then, perhaps we should amalgamate with the Police Federation, and become a power base of law enforcement officers with shared pay agreements

If the police are seen as a special case because they cannot take industrial action then the government will do all the work for us by banning us from industrial action therefore putting us on a par with police officers throughout the land, then WE become that special case.

Let us use the opportunity of equality rights in the law courts. It is time to use the courts to our advantage.

I have just read that the Coastguards are about to take industrial action for the first time, I find it amazing that with a Labour Government (?) in power public sector workers are taking more industrial action then ever before. Come on Mr Brown look at the services you are forcing into action through your money pinching exercises, the Police, Prison Officers, and now the Coastguards.

If you pay us a decent wage no action would ever be needed, I hope you can read this and take the hint Mr Brown.

Jim WylieThe Mount

Ref: Section 127

32-35 postbag.indd 32 24/4/08 10:00:13

Postbag

33May 2008

29th August 2007, a momentous day. Colin Moses and the NEC took the initiative and demonstrated superb leadership that would have got the great Winston Churchill to raise his two fingers in salute.

Am I proud to work for the Prison Service? NO.Am I proud to be a Prison Officer? YES. I work for the good honest public of this country.

The same people that showed us overwhelming support for taking strike action. To me, their opinions endorsed the action taken and dispelled any doubts I may have had.

Mr Straw, predictable as ever, again took the easy option and made it illegal for the POA to take further industrial action.

Well I am an individual and I don’t need the POA to inform me that the Government and Prison Service are treating me badly.

I know that if the membership were directed, then I and the majority would act in unison. Therefore I have searched my conscience and realised that:• I don’t need to wait for an instruction from the NEC. • I have the right as an individual not to offer my

good will. • I need not volunteer for extension of hours. • I can at least question any instruction to perform

un-profiled work.

• If I were to perform bed watches, should I be greedy or just do the necessary to survive financially?If the armed forces taught me anything it was

never to volunteer and if you obey the last order, you won’t be put on a charge (if that order were to be illegal I would challenge it later).

If the prison service and Government continue to try and break the unity of the POA there will be 30,000 plus individuals all searching their consciences. I think most will end up travelling in a similar direction. Depending on their personal circumstances, some will be using motorways; others will be on A, B and country lanes. A minority will either be indecisive and keep going around the roundabout or will pointlessly follow the Prison Service issued sat nav taking every detour to countless dead ends.

Mr Straw, my conscience is clear. You do not deserve my loyalty and good will. I intend to exercise my rights as an individual.

To my colleagues, I apologise in advance if my stance causes them any hardship. Glenn BatesonHMP Dorchester

HMP Shotts heard that there was going to be a fight. We wanted to be there to show that we stand side by side as one trade union: Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales. We used planes, trains and automobiles to arrive at court ready for the stramash ahead.

It was one hell of a journey trying to get there on time; we were attempting to bypass determined commuters with brollies, briefcases, rolled up newspapers and a few blokes dressed in white with sticks and bells called Morris.

At times it was like taking on the front line of the Welsh pack, but we managed with a valiant effort to overcome all this and we arrived exhausted, battered and bruised but ready to support our colleagues south of Hadrian’s Wall. The cheer that erupted as we finally staggered (sober) to a halt outside the Royal Courts of Justice was nothing like the Hampden Roar but we did appreciate the sentiment all the same. It was a pity some ex-Beatle person happened to be at Court on the same day as the camera attention was driven towards a divorce case rather than the fact that our fundamental rights as a trades union were breached. We think Heather was getting less money from Paul compared to what the Prison Service was trying to get from us.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to both PJ McParlane and Jim Shaw for looking after us so well on our visit. We can

honestly say that we have met very few gentlemen in our young lives, but PJ is the very epitome of the gentleman class and we appreciated the time and effort to make our stay as liquid and free flowing as possible. Jim Shaw’s hospitality was second to none as he organised a day that encompassed a full visit around Wandsworth Prison and every landmark within London. Thank you for the time and effort and tourist information service provided Jim. We were also given two books written by Stewart McLaughlin of Wandsworth, bought by PJ for the Branch for those interested in the History of prisons: ‘Britain’s last Executioner’ (Harry B. Allen) and ‘Execution Suite’.

We would also like to request a whip round for the National Chairman so we can buy him a wallet as we never saw him with one all night and know he would really like to be like the rest of us and actually get his out. The banter was excellent and the solidarity shown on the day should be repeated more often. ‘Unity is Strength’ is not some throw away logo. It is a fact of this great Union, and the message should be made clear to those who don’t realise or recognise the fact that as Prison Officers we are all ready to fight for each other. John Dickson and Ian WelshHMP Shotts

Royal Courts of Justice

I am an individual

Postbag

33 Gatelodge

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Postbag

34 Gatelodge

Meeting with MPs – Wandsworth BranchThe Wandsworth Branch is keeping with policy to meet MPs, and the most recent include Jack Straw at the prison and Siobhain McDonagh and Dennis Skinner at a local Labour Party social function.

It really is important for POA members to engage with MPs as whatever rights we campaign for will on day go through Parliament. I encourage all members to do their best on this front as it is an easy way to campaign to get our message across to people who really need to know how we feel about the way we are being treated.

Stewart MclaughlinBranch Secretary

P.J. McParlin NEC, Jack Straw MP, Stewart McLaughlin Branch Secretary, Wandsworth, on the newly refurbished e wing – there’s money but how much?

Jim Shaw, Branch Chairman, Siobhain McDonagh MP, Stewart McLaughlin, Branch Secretary, Wandsworth and Dennis Skinner MP. Dennis voted in support of the POA over 127.

Special ProjectI am writing to tell you about a project myself and several colleagues are planning, to assist a fellow Officer at HMP Nottingham, Simon Hennessey, who has recently been diagnosed as having a brain tumour.

Simon Hennessey, formerly an apprentice at Hull City FC, has been an officer at HMP Nottingham for approximately a year and a half, and is married with a six month old son. In December 2007 he was told that he would have to undergo surgery to remove a brain tumour, and the operation took place in early January of this year. The operation was successful, and 80% of the tumour was removed. However, subsequent tests confirmed that it was a stage 3 malignant tumour, and that whilst ongoing treatment could be given the tumour would very likely return within a few years.

We have now set up a fund, the proceeds of which we intend to be used to assist and support Simon and his family, in any way that may be required. For example, assistance with travel expenses, respite care and any other health care issues that may arise. This could encompass adaptations of home environment, personal mobility issues and social issues.

Any remaining proceeds of the fund will be place into a trust for the future benefit of Simon’s son, Mason.

The first fund raiser we have organised is a 100 mile bike ride, starting at KC Stadium the home ground of Hull City Football Club (Tigers), and ending at HMP Nottingham. The event will take place on Saturday 12 April, starting at around 8am.

Please contact the following Officers: Richard Morley (Richard.morley@hmps.gsi.gov.uk) or Officer David Bryan (David.bryan@hmps.gsi.gov.uk) at HMP Nottingham for further information.

Thank youColleagues,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every branch who nominated me in the recent election and every member who voted for me.

I am extremely pleased that the membership saw fit to re-elect me and I give you the promise that I will continue to serve you and the POA to the best of my ability for the next five years and beyond.Yours truly,Steve BostockNEO

Well done and thank youJust a quick note to say well done to Bozzie, Joe, PJ and Brian on their re-election and huge congratulations to Steve Baines on his election to the NEC.

A big thank you to the branches that nominated me and all the members who voted in my favour. Your support was greatly appreciated and will hopefully continue in the next election.Thank you,Jackie MarshallBranch ChairHMYOI Stoke Heath

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Following a hearing at Preston Magistrates Court on Friday 4th April 2008, a prisoner was sentenced to four periods of six months imprisonment to run concurrently.

In September 2007 during full association on evening duty, four prison offi cers were injured when trying to restrain a very violent prisoner, resulting in a charge of Section 39 common assaults. However, the Court queried whether a Section 47 should have been a more appropriate charge.

All four offi cers are now back on duty after long periods off work, recovering from their injuries.

A POA branch offi cial – and one of the injured parties – was pleased that the Court’s decision to convict and sentence the prisoner, which served to support the POA’s drive in highlighting the unacceptable levels of violence and intimidation

faced by Prison Offi cers across the estate almost on a daily basis.

The Prison Service and the Government, who have only recently begun negotiations on ‘zero tolerance’, should be encouraged by the decision of the CPS to prosecute the matter, and the fortitude of the staff involved in maintaining their professionalism throughout the incident, and through to the conclusion of the trial, praised.

It should also be acknowledged that the Governor, Richard Vince and the Deputy Governor, Steve Valentine and the SMT, gave their full support throughout.

Barry HardyPOA H&S Representative

Sincere thanksDear Colleagues,

I would like to take this opportunity to place on record my sincere thanks to those branches who nominated me, and to the members who voted for me, in the recent NEC Election.

I would also like to congratulate PJ, Joe, Brian and Bozzie on their re-elections, and look forward to working with the NEC. I will do my up most to promote and protect the interest of all the members during my time as an NEC member.

Finally, if any member wishes to contact me to discuss any issues I am always available.Yours sincerely,

Steve BainesNEO

Assaults on staff

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35May 2008

Thank youI wish to place my thanks to Steve Cox for his excellent representation at my recent CSAB hearing. The result vindicated my wrongful dismissal and cleared my name in what was a Disciplinary Hearing which should never have been brought.

Steve’s representation was professional and showed exactly why every Prison Offi cer should be in the POA. I have often heard the comments about it being “the most expensive diary in the country” but I can assure you it is money well spent in the present climate of charge and sack.

I would also like to give my thanks to Steve Ellis, Wealstun POA Committee, for his support throughout the Disciplinary process and the CSAB hearing.

Steve LewinHMP Wealstun

ThanksDear Colleagues,

I would like to thank all of the people who helped and supported me over the past 6 months, which I would not have got though without them.

I would also like to thank Steve Bostock, Jim While, and Matt Tomlin.Thanks again,

Offi cer Bob BakerHMP The Mount

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