The United Kingdom’s prison service has turned to Nigeria to fill staffing shortages in overcrowded prisons, following a rule change that added prison officers to the skilled worker visa list.
Approximately 250 foreign nationals, primarily Nigerians, have been recruited under this scheme since October 2023, according to the Ministry of Justice.
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Despite the job opportunities, many recruits face severe accommodation issues upon arriving in the UK.
Reports reveal that some resort to sleeping in their cars or camping near their workplaces to save costs, as housing is not included in their job packages.
Mark Fairhurst, president of the Prison Officers’ Association, cited cases like a recruit commuting 70 miles daily from Huddersfield to Nottingham, only to later sleep in his car outside the prison.
At another prison, new hires camped in a wooded area after learning no housing was provided.
The surge in Nigerian recruits appears to be driven by word-of-mouth within the Nigerian expat community, with two-thirds of 3,500 applicants in one month last year hailing from Africa.
Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association, noted that rural prisons face integration challenges, including communication barriers and adapting to local communities.
Critics, including Mr. Fairhurst, have raised concerns about the recruitment process.
He argued that relying on Zoom interviews and six weeks of training is insufficient for preparing officers to manage prisoners effectively, calling the system “not fit for purpose.”
The Prison Service defended its approach, emphasizing that all recruits undergo rigorous assessments and training to ensure standards are met.
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