The United Kingdom Government has approved emergency visa extensions for hundreds of foreign prison staff, most of whom are Nigerians, following concerns over a looming staffing crisis in the country’s prisons.
The BBC reported on Friday that the decision followed warnings that several correctional facilities were facing severe staff shortages after changes to visa rules introduced in July.
According to the BBC, the exemption applies only to applicants already in the UK and will remain in force until the end of 2026.
The report added that a reduced salary threshold of £33,400 would continue to apply to the affected workers until December 31, 2027.
Under the revised immigration rules, the UK government increased the skilled worker visa salary threshold to £41,700 per year.
However, the BBC noted that the average starting salary for new prison officers is about £33,000 outside London, making many overseas recruits ineligible under the new rules.
The Prison Officers Association had warned that the salary threshold hike could result in the loss of more than 2,500 overseas recruits, describing the situation as “catastrophic” for prison stability.
While welcoming the visa exemption, the union described the move as a victory for “common sense.”
“It might not be perfect, but it will mean the prison service can hopefully remain stable,” the association’s General Secretary, Steve Gillan, was quoted as saying.
The national chairman of the association, Mark Fairhurst, said the development had brought relief to affected officers.
“Our members can now go about their daily lives without the threat of removal from the country,” he said.
The BBC reported that The Times said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood initially opposed the exemption, arguing that priority should be given to recruiting British citizens.
However, Justice Secretary David Lammy reportedly told MPs earlier in the week that he was in talks with Mahmood on the issue, stressing that while local recruitment was important, meeting immediate prison capacity needs was a priority.
A Home Office source told the BBC that prisons were treated differently because of their importance to public safety and national security, adding that Mahmood wanted the exemption to be temporary.
A Ministry of Justice source said the prison system was under strain and that the visa extension would provide “breathing space” to implement a programme for recruiting more UK-based officers.
A government spokesperson said net migration had fallen sharply under the current administration but emphasised that public safety remained paramount.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
Nigerians dominate overseas recruitment
The BBC reported that prisons have been allowed to sponsor visa applications for overseas recruits since 2023 due to a shortage of British applicants.
According to the report, 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.
Nigerians were the most common nationality after Britons to apply for or secure prison jobs in 2024, followed by Ghanaians, with about 140 job offers.