The UK government has issued emergency visa extensions for hundreds of foreign prison officers, predominantly from Nigeria, to prevent a severe staffing crisis. The move follows urgent warnings from prison authorities that upcoming changes to immigration rules threatened to destabilize the prison system.
Under the new exemption, existing overseas prison officers can remain in the UK until the end of 2026. They will also benefit from a continued lower salary threshold of £33,400 for visa purposes until December 2027. This is a special dispensation from the government's recent increase of the general skilled worker visa salary threshold to £41,700—a figure well above the starting salary for prison officers outside London, which is approximately £33,000.
The Prison Officers Association had warned that enforcing the higher threshold could have forced out over 2,500 overseas staff, describing the potential impact as "catastrophic" for prison stability and public safety. Union leaders welcomed the reprieve, stating it would bring relief to affected staff and help maintain stability in the service.
The decision followed discussions between Justice Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who had initially emphasized prioritizing British recruitment. Government sources stated that prisons were treated as a special case due to their critical role in public safety and national security, and that the measure is temporary. It is intended to provide "breathing space" for a longer-term strategy to recruit more UK-based officers.
A government spokesperson affirmed that while reducing net migration remains a goal, ensuring prisons operate safely with experienced staff is paramount. The prison service has been recruiting overseas since 2023 due to a shortage of domestic applicants, with Nigerians forming the largest group of foreign hires last year.
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