Pressure mounts on Burnham to block 'zero-hours' guards at private jail

The Prison Officers' Association has voiced strong oppos…

The Prison Officers' Association has voiced strong opposition to a move by a private prison in Yorkshire to hire custody staff on zero-hours contracts, a first for the prison system in England and Wales. The union is now urging the Justice Secretary to step in and halt the recruitment drive, which it argues threatens both safety and job security.

HMP Millsike, a category C facility near York holding 1,500 inmates, is run by the outsourcing firm Mitie. The jail has posted online advertisements for prisoner escort roles paying £25 an hour, with work offered "on a flexible, task-based basis." This marks the first time such contracts have been used for custody officers across the national prison estate.

The union says the move is a dangerous departure from established practices, warning that zero-hours arrangements could undermine the professionalism and reliability required for escorting prisoners. It has called on Andy Burnham, who oversees justice policy, to intervene and prevent what it describes as a race to the bottom in prison staffing standards.

Mitie has not commented publicly on the criticism

Mitie has not commented publicly on the criticism, but the job listings remain active. The company has faced previous scrutiny over staff shortages and high turnover at its facilities, with reports of understaffing leading to operational challenges.

Prison reform advocates have also expressed concern, suggesting that flexible contracts could exacerbate existing problems with recruitment and retention in the sector. They argue that stable, well-compensated staff are essential to maintaining order and reducing reoffending.

The development comes amid broader pressures on the prison system, including overcrowding and a rising number of inmates with complex needs. Trade unions have repeatedly warned that cuts to prison officer numbers over recent years have left facilities stretched to their limits.

Burnham's office has yet to respond to the

Burnham's office has yet to respond to the union's call for intervention. However, the issue is likely to reignite debates about the role of private companies in running public services, with critics urging tighter regulation of employment practices in outsourced corrections.