Revealed: Injury a daily reality for prison officers

ONE in eight prison officers have been seriously injured in clashes with inmates in the past year, according to a new survey.

Almost half of staff said they had been involved in physical incidents with prisoners on a daily or weekly basis in the previous 12 months.

More than six out of 10 officers said they have been threatened or verbally abused daily or weekly.

“Forty-three percent of staff have been threatened with assault or serious assault and 12% have been assaulted. They are massive figures,” said Eugene Dennehy, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association.

The survey of 330 officers, completed by 200, was commissioned by the association and carried out by Dr Patrick Gunnigle and Dr Christine Cross of the University of Limerick.

Mr Dennehy said officers felt they were isolated and ignored by prison management if they suffered injury in the course of their work.

“They are perceived by management as a burden if they get injured and are off sick. They are treated as a nuisance, there’s no support,” he claimed.

The survey found that three in 10 staff had taken stress-related sick leave and that half of respondents reported feeling anxious at work. More than eight out of 10 officers were unhappy with their physical safety at work, with almost two-thirds feeling their safety had decreased in the past three years.

Other findings show:

* 80% felt their work was not valued.

* 65% felt unsafe dealing with prisoners.

* 87% said morale had worsened in the past three years.

* 80% said their workload had increased.

On the positive side, the survey found:

* 54% were happy with their pay and 66% were satisfied with their benefits, such as holiday entitlements.

* 80% indicated their intention to remain in the service.

* 70% said that while their daily work was challenging, it was manageable.

“This is the first time that employees in the prison service have had an opportunity to independently express their views on their work, their supports, risks and other work-related issues,” said Mr Dennehy.

“The findings, in some instances, are quite alarming and cannot be ignored.”

He called for an independent review of security by management.

Prison Service director general Brian Purcell said he had not seen the survey but insisted staff safety was paramount.

“The safety of staff is of the utmost concern to the Irish Prison Service and all efforts are made to manage, in so far as is possible, the risks associated with holding convicted criminals in prison,” he said.

He said a package of security measures had been announced by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan and was being discussed with the Prison Officers’ Association.