Jessica O'ConnorThe Prisons, Probation, and Reducing Reoffending Minister Lord James Timpson pledged a ‘seismic shift’ to improve professional standards across HM’s Prison and Probation Service.
Immediate action will include establishing a new unit to investigate and better respond to allegations of internal bullying, harassment and discrimination.
The investigation will be conducted by an independent party – taking complaints away from the line management hierarchy to ensure they are dealt with impartially and fairly by a dedicated team of experts.
This move comes as more than one in eight staff last year reported being bullied, harassed, or discriminated against – 50% higher than the wider Civil Service.
Today’s announcement also follows a comprehensive review by Jennifer Rademaker, a non-executive director for the Ministry of Justice.
Commissioned by HMPPS leaders, it examined the HR processes and culture for dealing with professional standards complaints.
In a speech at HMP High Down in Surrey yesterday, Timpson said: “Professional standards matter. They cannot simply be words on paper. They must be reflected in how we treat each other, every day.
“And where those standards aren’t met – our staff – and the public – must know that we’ll take swift and decisive action.
“HMPPS recognised that something needed to be done. That’s why it commissioned Jennifer to carry out her independent Review in the first place, and I’m pleased we have accepted her recommendations in full.”
He contrasted the misogyny and sexual harassment experienced by a young prison officer at work with the bravery of staff responding to help prison officers attacked last month at HMP Frankland.
Timpson added: “They ran towards danger, when others would run away. They are true heroes. And our thoughts are with the injured officers as they continue to recover.
“That kind of bravery isn’t rare in the service. Our probation officers, too, manage risk constantly, working with dangerous offenders to keep the public safe.
“These are jobs where heroism happens daily, in environments more stressful, more pressurised, than people could possibly imagine.
“The question is, then: how do we make this a Service worthy of the heroes at Frankland? Worthy of every hero in the Service?”
Recommendations from the report included the establishment of an independent central unit to handle the reporting of claims of bullying, harassment and discrimination, the creation of an Independent Commissioner for HMPPS Professional Standards, and improving data collection on complaints by creating one database and regular updates to all staff.
The Government has accepted all the recommendations from the review and will begin implementing them immediately.
