The United Kingdom Government has approved emergency visa extensions for hundreds of foreign prison officers, which most of them are Nigerians.
This followed concerns that recent immigration rule changes could worsen staff shortages and destabilise the country’s prison system.
The British Broadcasting Corporation reported that the decision followed warnings that several prisons were grappling with an acute manpower crisis that could threaten operations.
According to the BBC, the exemption applies to applicants already resident in the UK and will remain in force until the end of 2026, while a reduced salary threshold of £33,400 will continue to apply until December 31, 2027.
Earlier changes to the skilled worker visa rules had raised the salary threshold to £41,700 per annum, a figure higher than the average starting pay of new prison officers, which is about £33,000 outside London.
The BBC reported that the Prison Officers Association had cautioned that the revised threshold could result in the loss of more than 2,500 overseas recruits, warning that the impact would be “catastrophic” for prison stability.
While welcoming the exemption, the union described the decision as a triumph of “common sense.” Its General Secretary, Steve Gillan, said, “It might not be perfect, but it will mean the prison service can hopefully remain stable.”
The association’s National Chairman, Mark Fairhurst, also welcomed the move, noting, “Our members can now go about their daily lives without the threat of removal from the country.”
According to the BBC, The Times reported that the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, had initially opposed the exemption, maintaining that priority should be placed on recruiting British citizens.
The report added that Justice Secretary David Lammy had earlier told lawmakers he was in talks with Mahmood on the matter, stressing that although increasing local recruitment remained important, addressing the immediate demand for prison places was critical.
A Home Office source told the BBC that prisons were treated as a special case due to their importance to public safety and national security, adding that Mahmood intended the exemption to be temporary.
Similarly, a Ministry of Justice source said the prison system was under significant strain and that the visa extension would provide “breathing space” to roll out plans aimed at boosting the recruitment of UK-based officers.
A government spokesperson said, “Net migration has already fallen by more than two-thirds under this government. However, public safety is the first duty of any government, and we must ensure prisons continue to operate safely with the right level of experienced staff.”
According to the BBC, prisons have been permitted to sponsor visa applications for overseas recruits since 2023 due to a shortage of British applicants.
The broadcaster added that more than 700 Nigerians were recruited into UK prisons last year, accounting for 29 per cent of applicants and 12 per cent of staff hired in England and Wales, making Nigerians the largest group after Britons to apply for or secure prison jobs in 2024. Ghanaians followed with about 140 job offers.
