UK jails recruit Nigerian officers amid accommodation crisis

The UK prison service has begun recruiting officers from Nigeria and other countries under a new visa scheme to address staffing shortages, but challenges have emerged, including recruits sleeping in cars or camping due to a lack of accommodation.

The prison service is sponsoring skilled worker visas for the first time, following a rule change in October 2023 that allowed foreign prison officers to be hired. Ministry of Justice (MoJ) sources estimate that up to 250 foreign nationals have been recruited so far, with many hailing from Nigeria.

Mark Fairhurst, president of the Prison Officers Association (POA), described difficulties faced by recruits who arrive unprepared for the lack of housing. “We have problems with people who turn up at the gates with cases in tow and families, asking: ‘Where is the accommodation?’” Fairhurst said.

He cited a recruit who commuted 70 miles from Huddersfield to Nottingham before sleeping in his car. In another instance, foreign officers set up a makeshift camp in the woods opposite their workplace after discovering no accommodation was provided.

Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association (PGA), attributed the influx to online promotions within the Nigerian expatriate community. “It’s turned into an approach promoted online,” Wheatley said, noting that integration challenges and communication issues had arisen in rural prisons with a high number of foreign staff.

The recruitment drive has also raised concerns over training and vetting. Fairhurst criticized the use of Zoom interviews and six-week training programs, describing them as “not fit for purpose.” He warned that the process risks hiring underqualified or corrupt officers.

Last year, 165 prison staff were dismissed for misconduct, a 34% increase from the previous year, according to the HM Prison and Probation Service.

A Prison Service spokesperson defended the changes, stating, “All staff – regardless of nationality – undergo robust assessments and training. We continuously review our recruitment process and have strengthened vetting to ensure high standards.”

Despite the challenges, the recruitment strategy reflects an urgent need to address staffing shortfalls, though its implementation has sparked debate over sustainability and preparedness.