Prison service told to overhaul hiring system after Zoom-recruited officer 'couldn't lock cell doors'

Fairhurst argued this process was “simply not fit for purpose” and that it was unsurprising that corrupt and underqualified staff was being hired.

There have also been examples of prisons hiring physically disabled people who could not meet basic security requirements and were unable to manage prisoners.

Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association, said that prison officers were being hired with no in-person interviews

PA

Giving evidence to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, he said: “It is only a matter of time, and I will state it publicly, before a firearm makes its way into a prison. We know there are drones out there that have a capability to lift a 75kg load — that is somebody off the exercise yard. So it is only a matter of time.”

“It is only by the skin of our teeth my members haven’t faced a real threat to life because of drone deliveries, so we want urgent action taken to rid the threat of drones.”

A recent report by the prison watchdog revealed that the police and Government had given up control of the airspace outside two high-security institutions to organised criminals who flew in weapons and drugs.

The report prompted an emergency statement in the House of Commons by Sir Nicholas Dakin, who told fellow MPs that anit-drone nets, grilles and prison windows were frantically being installed at HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “If organised crime gangs can deliver phones and drugs to inmates’ cells, they could be delivering serious weapons and explosives as well. The chief inspector said the potential for escapes or hostage-taking is an enormous concern. This could not be more serious.”

In 2024, 165 prison officers were fired for misconduct, a staggering 34 per cent increase from the previous year.

In addition, half of all new recruits now leave the service within two years, and 34 per cent leave within the first 12 months.

Fairhurst said foreign officers were turning up on their first day assuming they would be given accommodation.

Fairhurst said foreign officers were turning up on their first day assuming they will be given accommodation

Prison Officers Association

“We are recruiting from overseas and you are getting recruits from overseas, we have heard, turning up at the gate with suitcases and family in tow asking ‘Where is my accommodation?’,” he said.

He revealed that some foreign officers were forced to sleep in their cars, and some even set up camps in the woods near the prison where they worked.

He hit out at hiring practices, saying doing interviews over Zoom was “not good enough”.

Fairhurst added: “Is it any surprise that staff are getting corrupted if they only adhere to six weeks’ training? Six weeks’ training … then you are a fully qualified prison officer. We have very little support on the landings to nurture you because we have a severe lack of experienced staff. We don’t get enough training on how you get conditioned by prisoners.”

The prison service said: “Our prison officers undergo robust assessments and an extended period of training before they work in prisons.

“We also continuously review our recruitment process to ensure our officers are best suited to their role and have strengthened vetting procedures to root out applicants who fall below our high standards.”