Prison officers change lives, says HMP Portland governor
The governor of Portland Prison says prison officers are among the hidden heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Being a prison officer isn't about locking doors, it's about rehabilitation - according to one of HMP Portland's staff.
New local jobs are being created at Portland's Prison and YOI as part of £2.75 billion investment from the government into the country's prisons.
Portland Prison has had to change it's methods along with the rest of society as it tackles the coronavirus pandemic.
Staff have had to keep on top of handwashing PPE and social distancing during the pandemic, all difficult things in the confines of a prison.
But, officers have still been continuing with their normal work and the Ministry of Justice are raisingawareness for the vital work they do.
A number of new jobs are being created at Portland Prison to maintain safety standards inside the prison and put people on the right track.
Rob Luxford, Governor of HMP Portland:
He said: “This job isn’t about locking and unlocking doors – prison officers play an essential role in changing the lives of those in custody, as well as keeping the public protected.
“The role can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding and there’s no shortage of support and guidance.
“It’s the team we have at HMP & YOI Portland that makes it such an enjoyable place to work – you can form friendships for life.”
Just over 50% of prisoners in the UK are functionally illiterate according to the Prisoners Education Trust. This means around 42,500 prisoners currently incarcerated have a reading age of 11 or lower.
Officers are responsible for supporting the rehabilitation of a small group of offenders. This includes encouraging them to participate in education and substance recovery programmes, as well as helping them maintain vital family ties.
A report into the conditions at Portland earlier this year praised the prison for continuing key work with about a third of the prison population through the pandemic.
Roger Davis has been a prison office there for 30 years. He said:
"Obviously with COVID coming in April we've had to run different regimes, but I think the prison service has done really well as part of the hidden heroes and key workers, I think staff are really proud of how they've done."
If you'd like to find out about becoming a prison officer, you can find out more here:
https://prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/prison-officer/find-a-job