Liverpool lawyer addresses national prison officers conference

Lack of government funding, stress in the workplace, security issues and rehabilitation are some of the key issues holding back prison reform according to a leading personal injury lawyer and prison reform campaigner Frank Rogers, a partner at Merseyside law firm Lees Lloyd Whitley.

Having advised the Prison Officers Association (POA) in the UK for 30 years, Mr Rogers was given the opportunity to make a keynote speech at the major prison officers’ conference. The POA and the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) jointly hosted the conference, which was held over two days, and was held at the Britannia Hotel in Coventry.

Mr Rogers’ belief in prison reform comes from working on several high-profile personal injury cases on behalf of prison officers, which has helped to form his views on the need for reform.

Other speakers at the conference included Brendan Barber (TUC General Secretary, from Southport), Martin Narey (Chief Executive National Offender Management Services), Colin Moses (POA Chairman). The event, chaired by Steve Gough (POA Vice Chairman Elect) included over 140 delegates including the General Secretary of NAPO, National Executive Members of both the POA and NAPO and representatives from the Shannon Trust, which champions adult literacy amongst the prison population.

Mr Rogers said in his address that he was looking not only for answers, but action as well, he comments: “It was marvellous to be given the opportunity to speak at such a high profile event. It also gave me the chance to raise how prison officers are treated and the stress they are put under. I had some years ago suggested to the Prison Service that they, their solicitors and the POA work with my firm in identifying causes, cures, solutions and legal approaches to the whole issue of stress, but as yet have had no response. As a result prison officers are being subjected to unnecessary and unreasonable levels of stress in one of the most demanding areas of public sector employment.”

I’m also amazed at the lack of government funding and foresight; the rising prison population creates a need for more staff to deal with issues such as security and rehabilitation and they are simply not being addressed. Literacy and adult learning skills in the prison population are also an area in need of greater improvement and investment.”