SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF STAFF IN THE JUSTICE SECTOR

Early day motion 1254, tabled 15 March 2016 by Caroline Flint (Labour). Signed by 26 members.

That this House believes that justice and custodial staff work in a situation of continual significant risk and that promoting the safety, health and wellbeing of these staff is of the utmost importance; recognises that numbers of assaults and serious assaults on prison staff are at their highest level since 2006; further recognises that prison and custodial staff have been cut by a third since 2010; recognises that justice and custodial staff have serious and legitimate concerns for their safety, and that the Community union represents thousands of workers in the justice and custodial sector in the UK and supports Community's campaign for a safer justice sector; and calls for all justice and custodial sector providers awarded through government contracts to adhere to these standards, policies that significantly reduce violence against staff and provide proper aftercare, agreed staffing levels to protect and safeguard employees, including the end of a lone working culture, commitments to protect and improve the health, safety and wellbeing of employees including urgent action on the rise of psychoactive substances, consistent, effective training and mentoring for all employees and positive partnerships with local employers and community groups to help reduce reoffending.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, DUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1, Plaid Cymru 1.