Emergency measures prevent mass deportations and stabilizes the United Kingdom prison system as staffing shortages threaten operations.
United Kingdom has issued emergency visa extensions to hundreds of foreign prison staff, most of whom are Nigerian, after warnings that staffing shortages threatened to destabilize the country’s prison system. The move comes following changes to UK visa rules earlier this year that raised the skilled worker visa salary threshold to £41,700 ($55,802), annually—well above the average starting salary for new prison officers outside London, which is around £33,000 ($44,120).
Under the temporary exemption, the visa extension applies only to officers already in the UK and will remain in effect until the end of 2026. A reduced salary threshold of £33,400 ($44,703), will apply until December 31, 2027, allowing the affected officers to continue working without fear of deportation.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) welcomed the move as a “victory for common sense.” General Secretary Steve Gillan noted that while the measure may not be perfect, it ensures that “the prison service can hopefully remain stable.” National Chairman Mark Fairhurst added that members can now “go about their daily lives without the threat of removal from the country.”
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According to reports, more than 2,500 overseas recruits risked losing their positions under the new rules, which the POA described as potentially “catastrophic” for prison operations. Prisons in England and Wales have relied heavily on foreign staff in recent years to fill vacancies due to difficulties recruiting locally.
Data show that Nigerians accounted for more than 700 hires in 2024, representing 29% of applicants and 12% of staff recruited, making them the second-largest group after Britons. Ghanaians were the next most common nationality, with around 140 hires.
The emergency exemption reportedly faced initial opposition from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who argued that priority should be given to recruiting British citizens. Justice Secretary David Lammy reportedly intervened, stressing that while long-term recruitment of local officers is a priority, ensuring immediate staffing levels is essential for public safety.
Home Office source told the BBC that prisons are being treated differently due to their critical role in national security, and that the exemption is intended to be temporary. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the move would provide “breathing space” to implement a program to recruit more UK-based officers.
UK Government statement highlighted the balance between immigration policy and safety: “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 temporary visa extensions are expected to stabilize the prison workforce while the government seeks longer-term solutions to recruit and retain domestic officers.
