Inspector’s report overly negative, say prison officers

The Prison Officers’ Association yesterday accused the Inspector of Prisons of making “particularly hurtful” and “overly negative” comments about prison staff, including that they “turned a blind eye to gang activities”.

POA deputy general secretary Jim Mitchell said prison officers seized huge amounts of mobile phones, drugs and weapons — which couldn’t be done if they were turning a blind eye.

He pointed out that the POA has raised the problem of gangs at its annual conferences over the last 10 years — and has repeatedly called for gang bosses to be removed from the general prison population.