Sexual harassment, bullying, and racism have become normalized among prison and probation officers in jails across England and Wales due to a “toxic culture” of cover-up by senior staff, the prisons minister has warned. Lord Timpson, speaking at the launch of a report on behavior and professional standards in the services, expressed concern that this “unacceptable” behavior has been allowed to flourish without check, as staff often do not report it out of fear of retaliation by their superiors who “close ranks.”
Internal surveys have shown that one in eight prison officers have experienced bullying, harassment, or discrimination within the past year. This toxic environment has led to a recruitment crisis, deterring potential new applicants and causing valuable staff to leave the prison and probation service.
Lord Timpson highlighted the negative impact of damaging headlines regarding inappropriate relationships between staff and inmates, as well as officers smuggling contraband and drugs. In response to these issues, an independent unit will be established to investigate complaints and address poor behavior, as recommended by the report conducted by Jennifer Rademaker, a non-executive director with the Ministry of Justice.
At High Down prison in Surrey, Lord Timpson shared a distressing incident involving a female officer who was sexually assaulted by a senior male officer while on night duty. Despite the perpetrator’s known history of inappropriate behavior, the woman hesitated to report him until the assault occurred. This case underscores the urgent need to address the pervasive culture of bullying and harassment within the prison service.
Lord Timpson emphasized that such unacceptable behavior must no longer be tolerated, and steps must be taken to ensure that complaints of bullying, discrimination, and harassment are effectively addressed and resolved. Staff must feel empowered to speak out without fear of reprisal, and perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.
“Inappropriate conduct can cause harm to individuals. It leads to the departure of valuable employees who are crucial to your organization. It fosters a negative environment and hinders your ability to effectively carry out the important work that improves lives, reduces crime, and enhances community safety. This underscores the importance of upholding professional standards,” emphasized Lord Timpson. Explore a new world of British journalism excellence. Experience The Telegraph for free for one month and enjoy unrestricted access to our acclaimed website, exclusive app, special savings, and more.”
