2008 ARCHIVE:
JOBS BOOST AT JAIL
Published on 23/01/2008
MORE jobs are lined up at Cumbria’s only jail.
The nine new posts at Haverigg prison will pump at least £150,000 a year in wages into the local economy.
The jobs, all prison officer posts, boast a starting salary of £17,144, rising to £27,350.
First advertised in the Evening Mail, the roles have also been plastered across job pages in the national press as part of a nationwide recruitment drive to boost numbers of prison officers.
HMP Haverigg governor Clive Chatterton said: “We are recruiting up to nine new officers for Haverigg in order to staff our new 64-bed unit that will come on stream later in the year.
“This is an excellent opportunity for readers of the North-West Evening Mail to think about the prison service as a career.”
Recruiters are encouraging women and those from ethnic minorities to apply, as they are under-represented within much of the prison service, which runs public sector prisons nationwide.
Robin Pitt, a Copeland borough councillor for Millom’s Newtown ward, also welcomed moves to attract women and ethnic minorities to the prison service.
Cllr Pitt, who worked in prisons for 16 years, said: “There has always been under-representation of women and ethnic minorities among prison officers. When I worked in jails women prison officers proved themselves to have a calming influence on inmates.
“If this attracts more ethnic minorities to Copeland then I welcome that too.
“It’s brilliant news, both for the local economy and house prices in the area.”
The jobs boost comes after the Haverigg jail unveiled its new state-of-the-art block, christened Langdale, at the category C site.
Copeland MP Jamie Reed was joined by Prison Service area manager Ian Lockwood and governor Mr Chatterton to cut the ribbon on the new two-storey block in November.
So far only 12 inmates are inside the new £12m block, but more are coming. When filled, the new block will bring the total prisoner capacity up to 632 from 568.
It is considered to play an important role in Haverigg’s privilege system and will house the best behaved inmates.
Applicants need to pass a selection test, attend an interview and pass a recruitment day where their skills will be tested in role-play situations. There is no closing date.
The Prison Service recruitment team can be reached on 0845 450 3287. To apply visit www.whatsontheinside.co.uk.
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