Burnham urged to intervene over ‘zero-hours’ custody officers in private prison
Summary
Andy Burnham is being urged to act over HMP Millsike, a privately run prison near York, which plans to hire custody officers on zero-hours contracts for escorting prisoners. The prison, managed by Mitie, has staff shortages and empty cells, raising concerns from the prison officers’ union about worker rights, security, and safety.Key Facts
- HMP Millsike is a category C prison near York, run by the company Mitie.
- Mitie wants to hire prison custody officers on zero-hours contracts, meaning workers have no guaranteed hours.
- The prison currently has about 350 empty cells due to a lack of staff.
- The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) opposes zero-hours contracts, saying they harm worker rights and prison safety.
- The prison officers on zero-hours would escort prisoners to courts, other prisons, and medical appointments.
- The role offers flexible hours but involves handling prisoners, which differs from other support staff roles.
- There have been serious safety concerns about violence at HMP Millsike, with watchdogs feeling unsafe alone.
- Mitie receives about £33 million a year to manage the prison and has been criticized for its management so far.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
