Received from: POA
Congress supports the Joint Unions in Prisons Alliance (JUPA) Charter to address the urgent and growing concerns around safety, wellbeing and working conditions for staff across the prison estate. JUPA is a coalition of 10 national trade unions representing most workers in prisons. The charter sets out a clear and actionable framework to tackle the key health and safety issues facing prison workers. Three of the most pressing issues facing prison workers today are:
i. violence in the workplace – the charter calls for robust preventative measures, improved incident response and a zero-tolerance approach to staff assaults
ii. exposure to psychoactive substances – the widespread use of psychoactive substances poses serious health and safety risks. The charter demands enhanced detection, intervention and support systems to protect staff from the harmful effects of these substances
iii. condition of the prison estate – many prison facilities are outdated, overcrowded and in disrepair. Specific examples include the presence of asbestos in a large proportion of the prison estate. Rat infestation which is a health risk to prisoners and staff. There have also been recent concerns about the lack of infrastructure investment and concerns around radon levels particularly in HMP Dartmoor.
Congress therefore calls on the General Council to campaign with government and respective employers in the Prison Service to work collaboratively with JUPA in resolving these issues of health and wellbeing for workers.
POA
AMENDMENT
Add new bullet after bullet iii.;
“iv. Congress notes that these issues are exacerbated by chronic prison overcrowding, which makes rehabilitation less effective.”
Add a new paragraph at the end of the motion:
“To campaign for measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons. This should include more investment in the public sector prison estate and the recruitment of the professional and specialist prison staff needed for prisoner rehabilitation.”
Prospect